FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU women’s cross country team has been picked fifth in the 2012 Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league coaches.

Lipscomb University received all 10 first-place votes. The Lady Bisons are returning four of its top-five finishers from last year's conference championship.

North Florida claimed all second-place votes under new head coach Jeff Pigg, who will take over this fall. Jacksonville and Mercer sit at third and fourth respectively.

Leading the Eagles this season are senior Barrie Cohen (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional HS) and junior Kelly Perzanowski (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville HS). Both student-athletes represented the Eagles at the Division I NCAA South Regional last season.

FGCU opens the first of six fall meets by hosting the FGCU Invitational on Friday, August 31 at 6:45 p.m. at FGCU’s Buckingham Property. It will mark the second straight year the Eagles have opened with the event, as the women’s team placed second in the 5K race last season.

The Green and Blue are set to host the A-Sun Championship for the first time in program history this season, as the event gets underway on Saturday, October 27 at FGCU's Buckingham Property.