KEENE, N.H. 9/5/07 - Back on the trails after its most successful season, the Keene State College women's cross country team is ranked 15th nationally and fifth regionally in the NCAA Division III preseason polls announced on Wednesday. The Owl men's team was also ranked fourth in New England.

Both squads begin their season at the Dartmouth Invitational on Saturday.

The Keene State women will be led once again by the senior duo of Keene's Breanne Lucey and Jennifer Adams of Saratoga, N.Y.

Last season, the Owls raced to their seventh straight Little East championship and finished fifth at the NCAA Regional meet to earn their first-ever berth to the NCAA championships. KSC placed a respectable 17th out of 32 teams at the championship with Lucey (28th) earning All-American honors.

Led by junior Brock Welch of Merrimack, N.H., the KSC will be looking to get back on course this season. Last year, the Owls saw their string of nine consecutive LEC titles and NCAA Division III champion berths come to and end.