It’s fair to say the Mary Washington and Salisbury battle annually to the finish line for the CAC women’s cross country championship.  The two programs have combined to win all 21 championships, many times within single digits in the team scoring to determine the winner.

The Eagles and four-time defending champion Sea Gulls (and champions seven of the last eight years) figure to battle to the wire again for the 2012 crown.

York and CAC Championship Meet host Frostburg State are among six other teams hope to infiltrate the upper echelon of the team standings.

One new team and three new coaches will bring teams to the 2012 CAC championships.

Southern Virginia University, an NCAA Division III provisional member which will join the CAC as a full member in 2013-14, will have student-athletes compete in the 2012 men’s and women’s cross country championship. 

The Knights, coached by Logan Davis, will not be eligible to compile a score for the team standings until the 2014-15 academic year, but individuals can earn All-CAC recognition if they finish among the top 15 runners in the 2012 or 2013 championship races.

Other newcomers to the CAC cross country coaching ranks include Marymount’s Zane Castro, who also serves as the Saints’ triathlon coach, and Wesley’s Stephen Kimes, who is also the Wolverines’ track & field coach. 

The 2012 season opens Labor Day Weekend, with competitions at Salisbury, Md., and Shippensburg, Pa.  Teams will gear up for the conference championship chase, to be held Oct. 27 at Maplehurst Country Club in Frostburg, Md.

Here is a brief look at each team heading into the season:

FROSTBURG STATE

Frostburg State returns three members of last year’s team for the upcoming 2012 season. However, third year head coach Dale Luy will also welcome four newcomers, including two track runners to his squad. Sophomore Gabbi Maher will be the team’s top returning performer from a year ago after finishing 52^nd at the CAC Championships. She will be accompanied by a pair of returners in junior Jen Bower and sophomore Bryn Allston.

MARYMOUNT

Marymount cross country enters a new era under the helm of new head coach Zane Castro.  Back on the women’s side for the Saints is senior Rachael Raske along with a foursome of juniors including Jessica Daley, Alondra Hall, Megan McMinn and Summer Penrose.  Daley was the 2010 CAC Rookie of the Year while McMinn was MU’s top performer in every race last season.

MARY WASHINGTON

The Mary Washington women, led by reigning CAC Runner of the Year Liz Green, will look to return to the top of the league with a deep roster full of promise. The Eagles will feature 11 new faces on it roster, in addition to Green and returners Erin Dandridge, Ashley Hess, Tara Landy, Owen McMillen, Trinity Smyth, and Hannah Somers.

SALISBURY

Salisbury has won the past four Capital Athletic Conference titles and will look to make it five straight in 2012. The Sea Gulls will look to be paced by the top returning sophomores Hailey Spinapont and Kira Polimeni. Spinapont, who finished fifth, was the highest finishing freshman at the 2011 championships.

ST. MARY’S

The Seahawks will feature the biggest rosters in their young history as the men will boast 18 runners and the women will list 18 competitors for the 2012 campaign.  All-CAC runners Katie Phipps and Michelle DiMenna will look to help the Seahawks break into the Top 4 at this year’s conference championship meet.  Six rookies join the women’s squad in 2012 and with the additional leadership of Margaret Lillie as well as Keighly Bradbrook’s strong running, St. Mary’s should be a top contender in the conference race this season.

SOUTHERN VIRGINIA

Southern Virginia women's cross country features seven returners, including four of his top five runners from last year's team that captured the 2011 USCAA Women's Cross Country National Championship in Lake Placid, N.Y., including Tori Faulkner and Leah Huber.  SVU also has Kera Macfarlane-Neilson and Shelbi Prince back, who both consistently finished in our top five last season.

WESLEY

Twila McCrea returns to the Wolverines for her senior year as the Wolverines, headed by first-year head coach Stephen Kimes, open the 2012 season on September 7 at the Delaware State Invitational.  Tristin Burris, who is also a standout on the Wesley field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams, as well as the second fastest runner in school-history, should also run in several meets as well.

YORK

The York College women's cross country team features a solid returning core and a highly regarded recruiting class as the women look to join the men among the ranks of CAC Champions. The Spartans return All-CAC performers Misty Parshall and Nicole Danielewicz as both runners will be counted on to run at the front of the Spartan pack. Head coach Erick Camodeca has brought in a stellar recruiting class that he expects to bolster the Spartan squad and elevate the Green and White within the CAC standings.