Sept. 13, 2006

WACO, Texas - The Baylor women's cross country team's high expectations this season were merited with the No. 13 ranking in the season's first NCAA Poll, the highest preseason ranking in program history, the United States Cross Country Coaches Association released Wednesday.

"We're honored and it's nice to be thought of that highly," head coach Todd Harbour said. "The ladies are really fired up for this season and excited to be in the position they are and to make an impact for this program."

The team also named its captains Tuesday, electing senior Monique Ortega (El Paso, Texas) and junior Lyndsy Bedell (Plano, Texas) to the posts.

"Lyndsy and Monique are outstanding young ladies both athletically and spiritually," Harbour said. "They represent what Baylor cross country and track and field stand for and the team will benefit from their leadership."

The women return their top seven letterwinners from last year's squad, which finished 15th at the NCAA Championships; however, Harbour said injuries will likely keep senior Brittany Brockman (Houston, Texas), the NCAA South Central Region individual champion, and sophomore Charity Williams (Corpus Christi, Texas) out of competition this season, so they will apply to the NCAA for a redshirt along with junior Jessi Barnes (Bentonville, Ark.).

Harbour has absorbed the losses with a talented freshman class, including Nichole Jones (Spring, Texas), who captured the individual title at the North Texas Invitational Saturday. Without Brockman, the Bears' top returner is now sophomore Erin Bedell (Plano, Texas), who has yet to compete this season, but has been impressive in workouts.

The Bears return to action at the Roy Griak Invitational Saturday, Sept. 23 in St. Paul, Minn.