PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Keene State College women's cross country team was named as the favorite to complete a three-peat and win their 21st Little East Conference championship when the league office released the preseason coaches' poll on Thursday morning.

Fresh off a season in which they had three runners finish in the top seven and five in the top 19 at the LEC championship race, the Owls garnered 62 points and seven of nine first place votes to pace the poll.  Eastern Connecticut State University, who finished in second last year 15 points behind KSC, was chosen second and compiled 58 points (2 FPV) based on the voting.  The University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth (51 points) and Plymouth State University (41 points) rounded out the top four. 

A big piece of the Owls' team will again be Maggie St. John, who returns and will look to qualify for the NCAA championship individually for the second consecutive year, a feat that has not been accomplished since former KSC head coach Paige Mills did so from 2009 through 2011.  Anna O'Reilly, who finished sixth at last year's league championship, and Sarah Ames (seventh) also return.  KSC will also welcome four first years to the mix.

The Owls have won the league 14 more times than the next closest competitor.  After they came up short (or did not have a season) in three straight years from 2019 though 2021, they have responded with league titles in each of the last two years to add on to the 17 straight from 2000 through 2016.

This year's league championship will be held on the campus of UMass-Dartmouth on Saturday, November 2 with the NCAA regional race two weeks later (November 16) in Hopkinton, N.H.

KSC opens the 2024 campaign with an Alumni Meet on Saturday, August 31.

2024 LEC Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll
1. Keene State - 62 (7)
2. Eastern Connecticut - 58 (2)
3. UMass Dartmouth - 51
4. Plymouth State - 41
5. Southern Maine - 38
6. UMass Boston - 25
7. Rhode Island College - 23
8. Vermont State Castleton - 18
9. Western Connecticut - 8