Women's XC Set For A-10 Championship

Saturday, October 28

Leesburg, Va.

10:50 a.m.

Davidson College Athletics

Atlantic 10 Championship

Photo of the women at start line at the Queen City Invite

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

10/25/2017 11:47:00 AM | Women's Cross Country

2017 Atlantic 10 Championship	Championship Central
Date	Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017
Time	Men's 8K - 10 a.m. Women's 8K - 10:50 a.m.
Venue	Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg, Va.
Live Stream	Atlantic 10 Network
Live Stats	Live Results
Social Media	Facebook \| Twitter \| Instagram
	#A10Champs
2016 Results	Recap

LEESBURG, Va. - The Davidson women's cross country team returns to the Atlantic 10 Championship Saturday at Pole Green Park.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Men's Race: 10 a.m. (8K)
Women's Race: 10:50 a.m. (5K)

ATLANTIC 10 NETWORK
The Cross Country Championships, hosted by George Mason University, will be streamed live and free of charge on the Atlantic 10 Network, weather permitting.

Click here to watch live!

SEASON REWIND
Davidson has won two-of-four meets competed in this season. Senior Sarah Sears paced the 'Cats in all four races in record setting fashion, setting a new personal best in all four attempts. The Arlington, Va., native won the last event prior to A-10's, snapping the tape in a new program-best 5k time of 16:50.0 at the Queen City Invite. Four other Wildcats moved up in the all-time top 15 after the Queen City Invite, Caroline Yarbrough (17:08.0), Maddie Hunter (17:28.0), Laurel Sheffield (17:45.0) and Sierra Ponthier (17:49.0).

The 'Cats jumped onto the scene with a third-place finish at the Adidas XC Challenge hosted by N.C. State. Sears led the way with a seventh place result and earned the A-10's Performer of the Week as Davidson beat regionally ranked foes Wake Forest and Elon.

PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
The Wildcats were tabbed to finish third in the 2017 Preseason Coaches' Poll released back on Aug. 30. Davidson earned 161 points and a first place vote. Two-time defending champs Richmond were atop the poll, registering 194 points and 12 first place votes, while Dayton was second with 171 and one. Duquesne (160) and George Washington (130) rounded out the top five.

SCOUTING THE FIELD
Four Atlantic 10 members are currently ranked in the USTFCCCA Regional Poll, released on Oct. 16. Davidson edged out Richmond in the Southeast Region, coming in at 13th and 14th, respectively. Preseason Coaches' Poll favorite Dayton ranks 10th in the Great Lakes, while La Salle checks in at the 13th spot in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

2016 A-10 CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
Davidson placed fourth overall at the 2016 Championship in Mechanicsville, Va., the highest team finish in the A-10 era and best overall since the 2007 'Cats came in second at the Southern Conference Champs. Caroline Yarbrough paced the team with a ninth place finish, stopping the clock in 17:36.9. Maddie Hunter (17:57.6), Sarah Sears (18:00.5), Susannah Cate (18:06.7) and Hayden Bates (18:11.9) rounded out the team scoring.

COACHES COMMENTS - JEN STRAUB
"This fall the team has been focusing on the daily and weekly process of getting better. Paying attention to the details, such as stretching, sleeping, and recovery has been a key to our improvement. We are ready to go out on Saturday to compete against a very talented A-10 field and if we continue doing what works for us we will have a great day!"

UP NEXT
Davidson will travel to Charlottesville, Va., to compete at the 2017 NCAA Southeast Regional Meet Friday, Nov. 12. The meet, hosted by Virginia, will be held at Panorama Farms.

DavidsonPhotos.com