WICHITA - The Newman University women's cross country team has been picked to finish second in the Heartland Conference, according to the 2010 Heartland Conference Women's Cross Country Pre-Season Poll. The poll, which was voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors, was released Monday evening.

Newman will return four of its top-five placing runners from last year's squad that placed third at the Heartland Conference Cross Country Championship in Dallas, Texas. Head Coach Josh Schepis has assembled a class of six newcomers as he attempts to fill the void left by the departure of NU record-shatterer Melissa Ortiz, who graduated after last season.

Dallas Baptist was picked to win the conference this season.

The Jets open their season Sept. 2, traveling to Wichita Falls, Texas for the Midwestern Stampede hosted by Midwestern State University

2010 Heartland Conference Women's Cross Country Pre-Season Poll (Votes/First Place Votes)
1. Dallas Baptist (48/8)
2. Newman (39/0)
3. Texas-Permian Basin (28/0)
4. Texas A&M International (27/0)
5. St. Mary's (18/0)
6. Oklahoma Panhandle State (8/0)