AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken cross country team was selected to finish 11^th in the Peach Belt Conference women's cross country preseason poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches.

“We have a lot of upperclassmen that are going to bring a lot of experience to the course and help train the newcomers and underclassmen,” head coach Kara Kreutzer said. “I think they will try to record personal-best times this year and it could be a really good year.”

The Pacers are coming off a 25^th-place finish at the 2013 Southeast Regional Championship. The team placed 11^th at the Peach Belt Conference Championship in 2013, which was hosted by Georgia Southwestern.

USC Aiken returns six student-athletes, including five seniors, to the 2014 squad and adds a talented newcomer to the mix.

The Pacers have five regular-season meets. The team opens the season at the Bobcat Invitational Sept. 12 and hosts the USC Aiken Invitational Oct. 24.

Flagler was selected to win the conference championship, earning eight first-place votes. Columbus State and Clayton State rounded out the top three.

Preseason Poll

1. Flagler (8)
2. Columbus State (3)
3. Clayton State
4. Montevallo
5. UNC Pembroke
6. North Georgia (1)
7. GRU Augusta
8. Georgia College
9. Young Harris
10. Georgia Southwestern
11. USC Aiken
12. Francis Marion

(indicates first-place votes)