NEW ORLEANS – With the start of the 2018 season nearing, University of South Alabama Cross Country runner Carolien Millenaar received a preseason honor as she was selected as one of the top seven female runners in the Sun Belt Conference Wednesday morning as announced by the league office and voted on by the 12 coaches on the women's side.
As a true freshman last season, Millenaar earned third-team all-conference honors with an 11th-place finish at the Sun Belt Conference Championships. Including the top 15 finish at the conference championship, the Sogard, Denmark, native also posted a pair of top 10 finishes which included a season-best second-place finish at the Azalea City Classic. She was the second-highest finisher for the Jag women in all five races during the 2017 season.
The preseason list for the top seven runners on both the men's and women's side is a new addition for the 2018 season.
Both the Jaguar women's and men's teams were ranked third in the preseason poll as voted on by the Sun Belt coaches, receiving 119 and 75 points, respectively. The South women were also ranked 12th in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (UTSFCCCA) South Region preseason poll earlier this week.
South Alabama will open up the 2018 Cross Country on Friday when both teams competes at the Challenge of Champions held at Langan Park. The Jaguar women are set to run in the 5k event scheduled to begin at 5:45 p.m., while the men will also compete in a 5k event set for a 6:30 p.m. start time
2018 Sun Belt Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses)
1. UTA (5) - 95 pts
2. Appalachian State (5) - 90 pts
3. SOUTH ALABAMA - 75 pts
4. Texas State - 63 pts
5. Louisiana - 56 pts
6. Troy - 51 pts
7. Coastal Carolina - 46 pts
8. Arkansas State - 38 pts
9. Little Rock - 19 pts
10. ULM - 17 pts
Top Seven Men's Returners to Watch
Hutson Baumann (Coastal Carolina, Senior)
Gable Dershem (Appalachian State, Sophomore)
Justin Domangue (UTA, Junior)
Joel Duren (UTA, Senior)
Joseph Meade (Texas State, Senior)
Brady Steele (UTA, Junior)
Nadeel Wildschutt (Coastal Carolina, Sophomore)
2018 Sun Belt Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Texas State (9) - 139 pts
2. Appalachian State (3) - 129 pts
3. SOUTH ALABAMA - 119 pts
4. Arkansas State - 112 pts
5. Georgia State - 92 pts
6. UTA - 79 pts
7. Coastal Carolina - 71 pts
8. Louisiana - 62 pts
9. Little Rock - 46 pts
10. Georgia Southern - 37 pts
11. Troy - 35 pts
12. ULM - 13 pts
Top Seven Women's Returners to Watch
McKynzie King (Texas State, Sophomore)
Kendra Long (Texas State, Junior)
Lotte Meyberg (Georgia State, Sophomore)
CAROLIEN MILLENAAR (South Alabama, Sophomore)
Devina Schneider (Texas State, Senior)
Lisha Van Onselen (Coastal Carolina, Junior)
Shanieke Watson (Little Rock, Senior)
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the Finish Line Club, the track and field and cross country specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Finish Line Club go directly to support the South Alabama track and field/cross country programs. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/finishlineclub..
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