FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo women’s cross country team was voted to finish sixth in the Peach Belt Conference standings, according to league coaches Sept. 8.

The Falcons were selected to finish sixth last season and went on to finish fifth at the Peach Belt Conference championship meet. Montevallo returns all but one of its runners from last year, including its top four finishers at last season’s conference championship meet.

The 2011 team will feature six newcomers, who will all be competing with the returning six runners for those coveted top-five spots. First-year head coach Tommy Barksdale inherits one of the most talented cross country teams in Montevallo history. Runners on the squad hold nine of the top 10 times in school history, and a number of the newcomers bring in credentials that rival any runner who has raced wearing the Montevallo uniform.

The squad features three seniors, Whitney Adkins, Ginny Davis and Katherine Schofield, three juniors, a sophomore and six freshman.

Augusta State was picked to end the six-year run of Columbus State at the top of the Peach Belt Conference standings. Columbus State was picked to finish second, followed by Clayton State in third and UNC-Pembroke in fourth. Georgia College rounds out the top five, followed by Montevallo. The final four are Flagler, Georgia Southwestern, Francis Marion and USC-Aiken.

The Falcons open up their 2011 season this weekend at the Fleet Feet Sports/Earl Jacoby Memorial in Huntsville.