Owls Receive Votes in Preseason Poll

(FULTON, Mo., Aug. 27) - The William Woods University women's cross country team received 20 votes in the 2009 NAIA preseason poll. Simon Fraser (B.C.) has been selected as the No. 1 team in the preseason poll (complete poll).

The Owls did receive the top spot in the American Midwest Conference preseason poll. The Owls finished ahead of new AMC member Park University.

The Owls have won the AMC championship four of the last five years. WWU will open its season on September 12th at the University of Missouri Cross Country Challenge.

Returners include junior Kristi Palmer and sophomore Cheryl Held. Each qualified for the 2008 NAIA National Cross Country Championships. Sophomore Latrice Fletcher, junior Jessica Bollinger, and sophomore Jordan Locke finished 6th, 8th, and 10th respectively at the AMC Cross Country Championships.

The Owls welcome freshman Taylor Brondel (Jefferson City, Mo.), Stephanie Candrl (High Ridge, Mo.), Amy Gangloff (Wellsville, Mo.), Whitney Hardy (Dixon, Mo.), Brooke Thibodaux (Wildwood, Mo.), Jessie Wright (Linn, Mo.), and Chelsea Ziebert (Sandy, Utah) to this year's team.

Head Coach Brayce Forsha, the 2008 AMC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year, begins his second season at the helm of the William Woods cross country program.