EDISON, N.J. – The Fairfield University women’s cross country team has been ranked ninth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as announced this afternoon by the MAAC and voted upon by the conference’s 11 head coaches. The squad is set to begin the fall on Sept. 3 at the Marist Invitational.
Fairfield garnered 32 points in the poll – ahead of Niagara (24) and Saint Peter’s (11) and behind a seventh-place tie at 56 points between Manhattan and Siena. The Stags return 13 student-athletes to the 2016 team led by a core of six senior harriers.
With six first-place votes and 116 total points, defending MAAC Champion Quinnipiac edged second-place Iona for the top spot on the ledger. The Gaels, who were dethroned in 2015 after claiming 10 consecutive conference crowns, earned 112 points fueled by the remaining five first-place tallies.
The remainder of the ledger lists Monmouth, Marist, Canisius, Rider, Manhattan and Siena (tied), Fairfield, Niagara and Saint Peter’s.
Fairfield’s 2016 schedule is highlighted by their annual home meet, the Fr. Victor F. Leeber, S.J. Invitational. The event will be held on campus on Saturday, Sept. 24.
