NEW ORLEANS – James Madison cross country came in second in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Thursday afternoon.
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The Dukes received two first-place votes and tallied 151 points, while Arkansas State claimed the top spot with 10 first-place nods and 162 points. Marshall was third with 138 points, followed by App State and Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers were given the final first-place vote in the conference of 13 participants.
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JMU returns three scorers from last year's league meet in juniors
Katherine Lawson and
Faithe Ketchum, and senior
Sofia Terenziani. Last fall, Lawson finished 11th in the Sun Belt title race with a 5K time of 18:02.9 to earn Third Team All-Conference Status. Her performance helped the Dukes finish second overall with 89 team points, the program's best Sun Belt finish in school history. Additionally, the Brisbane, Australia native was named the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year after a strong first season in Harrisonburg.
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JMU opens the 2024 season at Richmond's Spider Alumni Open on Saturday, Aug. 31. The 4K race takes place at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville, Va. at 9:50 a.m. The 2024 Sun Belt Conference Championships are set for Friday, November 1 at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve in Foley, Ala. The women are scheduled to run the 5K at 9:15 a.m.
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2024 Sun Belt Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Arkansas State (10) – 162 points
2. James Madison (2) – 151 points
3. Marshall – 138 points
4. App State – 127 points
5. Coastal Carolina (1) – 126 points
6. South Alabama – 96 points
7. Southern Miss – 86 points
T-8. Louisiana – 78 points
T-8. Texas State – 78 points
10. ULM – 58 points
11. Georgia Southern – 40 points
12. Georgia State – 24 points
13. Troy – 19 points
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