KUTZTOWN, PA (August 25, 2010) -- The Kutztown University women's cross-country team was picked to finish third in the preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) cross-country coaches' poll released Wednesday morning.

The Golden Bears are also ranked second in the preseason United States Track and Field Cross-County Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) Atlantic Regional poll. Kutztown was picked to finish behind Shippensburg, which was a unanimous choice as the preseason favorite, and Slippery Rock. The Golden Bears were picked ahead of Lock Haven (fourth) and Millersville (fifth).

Kutztown enjoyed a memorable 2009 season in which it finished 14th overall at the NCAA Division II Championships, tying the highest finish in program history. The Golden Bears also placed second at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regionals and fifth at the PSAC championships.

The Golden Bears have plenty of experience returning this season as Becca Brandt (Cleona, PA/Cedar Crest), Kristin Cupido (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan), Cristina Reimer (Chester Springs, PA/Downingtown East) and Keri Brown (Southampton, NJ/Seneca) all competed in the national championship meet. Cupido was Kutztown's highest finisher at the NCAA championships last year, finishing 52nd overall with a time of 22 minutes, 14.3 seconds. Reimer was next for Kutztown, finishing 70th overall (22:33.5).

Reimer, Brown and Cupido and Brandt finished among the top 30 at the Atlantic Regionals last season, which helped the Golden Bears earn the trip to nationals as a team.

The Golden Bears begin their 2010 season next Friday evening when they compete in the Lehigh Valley Challenge beginning at 6:15 p.m. Kutztown will also host a pair of home meets this season: The Maroon-and-Gold Invitational on Saturday, September 11 and the Division II Challenge on Saturday, October 23.

California University of Pennsylvania will host the PSAC Championships on Saturday, November 6 and Saint Augustine's College will be the site for the NCAA Atlantic Regional on Saturday, November 20. The NCAA championships are in Louisville (Ky.) on Saturday, December 6.

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1. Shippensburg (16)

2. Slippery Rock

3. KUTZTOWN

4. Lock Haven

5. Millersville

6. Bloomsburg

7. Edinboro

8. Mansfield

T9. Clarion

T9 . IUP

11. California

12. East Stroudsburg

13. West Chester

14. Mercyhurst

15. Gannon

16. Cheyney