AMHERST, N.Y. -- The Daemen University women's cross country team is ranked second among 10 teams in the 2022 NCAA Division II Preseason Regional Rankings, as released today by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The poll consists of the top teams from the East Coast Conference, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference and the Northeast-10 Conference.

It is the first time since 2017 that the Wildcats have been ranked in the preseason regional rankings, and it marks the highest preseason regional ranking for Daemen since the program gained NCAA Division II status in 2015. The previous best was No. 3 in 2016. Daemen closed out the 2021 season ranked sixth in the final USTFCCCA regional poll.

Southern New Hampshire University topped the poll, while Daemen, Roberts Wesleyan College, Southern Connecticut State University and  Saint Anselm College rounded out the top five. The bottom five included Adelphi University, St. Thomas Aquinas College, Jefferson University, Felician University and American International College.

Daemen was also recently voted No. 1 in the ECC preseason poll, a first for the program since it joined the league in 2013.

Nine runners return for fourth-year head coach Pete Gratien from last season's team that finished second in the 2021 ECC Championships behind Roberts Wesleyan. The Wildcats achieved four first-place finishes in the 2021 season. Kassandra Nolet (Fort Erie, Ont.), who earned ECC Preseason Runner of the Year for the upcoming season, Marcy Colca (Getzville, N.Y.), Courtney Merrill (Speedway, Ind.), and Emma Cain (Lockport, N.Y.) all achieved All-ECC honors last season, and all four are back for the 2022 season.

The Wildcats open the season September 3 by traveling to Syracuse for the Frank Dillon Memorial Invitational hosted by Le Moyne College. Four additional regular season meets follow, including the Daemen Alumni Invitational (September 10) at Williamsville's Bassett Park. Roberts Wesleyan hosts the ECC Championships on November 5 and the NCAA Division II East Region Championships will take place on Long Island, N.Y. on November 19.