The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's cross country team was tabbed ninth in the Northeast Conference preseason poll, released by the league, Wednesday, Aug. 20.

In the poll voted by head coaches, two-time defending champion Quinnipiac University took down eight first-place votes to secure to No. 1 spot.  Monmouth University, Sacred Heart University and Mount St. Mary's University all collected a top nod, rounding out the top four.

Saint Francis University (PA) and Wagner College finished in fifth and sixth, respectively.  Central Connecticut State University and Robert Morris University came in seventh and eighth place.  After Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island University was tenth and St. Francis College (NY), 11th.

Under Head Coach Sharlene Milwood-Lee, the Knights are led by sophomore Robert Fitzsimmons (Dublin, Ireland/Ashfield College), in addition to juniors Jonathan Chelimo (Kabarnet, Kenya/Western) and Yavuz Inanli (Cincinnati, OH/Sycamore).  Chelimo and Inanli represent FDU's third and fourth-place finishers at the 2007 NEC Championship.

Fairleigh Dickinson makes its 2008 debut, Saturday, Sept. 6 in the Bronx, NY, competing in the Fordham University Dual.

2008 NEC Men's Cross Country

Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Quinnipiac (8)

2. Monmouth (1)

3. Sacred Heart (1)

4. Mount St. Mary's (1)

5. Saint Francis (PA)

6. Wagner

7. Central Connecticut State

8. Robert Morris

9. Fairleigh Dickinson

10. Long Island

11. St. Francis (NY)

* First place votes in parentheses