Bryan College Picked First in Preseason Coach\'s Poll

Bryan College is starting their cross country season with high expectations.  Returning their top four athletes from the 2006 Region XII runner-up finish, the Lions were picked by the Appalachian Athletic Conference coaches to finish at the top this fall.  The men received six first place votes and totaled 62 points, just in front of Milligan College, who received two first place votes and a total of 58 in the preseason poll.  Covenant College and King College were very close for the third and fourth spots as well.  Bryan College was also rated atop the Region XII rankings, ahead of Milligan and Berea College.

"We are excited about the ranking, but my athletes understand that preseason rankings don't really mean much if they aren't ready on race day.  It is a honor to have the respect from our fellow conference coaches, and we look forward to the challenge ahead of us.  Our returners have matured and I hope by season's end the newcomers will find themselves battling for a top team position," said head coach Rodney Stoker.

The top four athletes from last fall are juniors Daniel Goetz and Guillermo Loiaza.  Goetz is a two-time NAIA national championship qualifier in cross country and set school records this past spring in the 1500 meter run (3:54.71) and 3000 meter steeplechase(9:20.04).  Sophomores Josh Bradley and Zach Buffington hope to make jumps in their performances from last fall as they both had new bests during their outdoor seasons.  Bradley lowered his 800 meter best and competed at both the indoor and outdoor NAIA Championships (1:52.35).  Buffington was the number two man last fall and regrouped in the late spring after a winter struggle and ran to a (4:03.85) in the 1500 meter run.  "These guys are continually learning and I'm confident in them reaching high this fall," said Stoker.

Last year's redshirt athletes Andrew Dorn and Zach Mobley figure to contribute into the season as well.  Zach Mobley has made the transition to collegiate life and will put on the Bryan uniform for the first time this fall after competing unattached a few runs last winter and spring.  Mobley lowered his 800 meter best (1:50.85) at Vanderbilt in mid-May.  Dorn transferred in last fall, but suffered through an achilles injury that put him back a few months.  "Honestly, I didn't expect Mobley to contribute to our top five, but after the first few weeks of camp, he changed my thinking.  Dorn is finally healthy and after some more consistent training can make a difference for us as well," stated Stoker.

Freshmen athletes Matt Albin, Hunter Hall, Bryson Harper, Drew Nunnelly and Colby Smith join the Bryan squad after successful high school careers.  "These guys have the talent to come in and be a factor for us, but it will depend on how well they adapt to the training.  We try to bring our younger guys along without injury setbacks that will allow them to develop over the years," Stoker commented.

2007 Appalachian Athletic Conference Preseason Poll