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Defending Champs Colorado, Michigan State Lead Way in Pre-Season Regional Rankings - USTFCCCAPublished by
NEW ORLEANS – With the dawn of a new Division I Cross Country season upon us, it’s only right that the defending national champions find themselves at the top of the Regional Team Rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (UTSFCCCA) on Monday afternoon. 2014 men’s champion Colorado returns five of its seven runners who competed at last year’s national meet, including five – count them, five – All Americans. Add in two more experienced runners coming off redshirt and a 5-star recruit, it’s easy to see why the Buffaloes lead the Mountain Region and could very well headline the national poll when it makes its season debut tomorrow afternoon. Likewise, 2014 women’s champion Michigan State sits atop the Great Lakes Region. The Spartans welcome back four of their seven runners from last year’s national meet, with All-Americans Rachele Schulist and Lindsay Clark leading the charge. Regional Rankings Summary PDF | Division I XC Rankings Central Of note, all but four defending regional champions are No. 1. Stanford’s men and women, both of whom are pegged to have a big season, dethroned both Oregon teams out West. New Mexico’s women, who have two All Americans from 2014 on their roster (Courtney Frerichs and Alice Wright) usurped Colorado and in the Northeast, Providence‘s women, with all seven runners returning from its NCAA team, toppled Iona. For the men, 2014 regional champs Wisconsin (Great Lakes), Arkansas (South Central), Villanova (Mid-Atlantic), Syracuse (Northeast), Virginia (Southeast), Oklahoma State (Midwest) and Mississippi (South) all remained entrenched at the top of their respective regions. For the women, 2014 regional champs Arkansas (South Central), Georgetown (Mid-Atlantic), William and Mary (Southeast), Iowa State (Midwest) and Vanderbilt (South) all earned No. 1 honors. Men’s teams on the rise include Florida (surging from eighth to third in the South) and New Mexico(jumping from seventh to fourth in the Mountain Region). Squads trending in the other direction wereAuburn (third to eighth in the South) and Portland (second to seventh in the West). Texas‘ women rocketed from seventh in the South Central Region to second, while Montana State rose from 10th last year to fifth to begin the season in the Mountain Region. Toledo (third to ninth, Great Lakes Region) and Kansas State (eighth to 15th, Midwest Region) went the wrong way. NCAA Division I Regional Championships will be held around the country on Friday, November 13 with the national meet happening eight days later in Louisville, Kentucky. USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning teams strength with current season results (if applicable) in determining predicted team finishes at the NCAA Regional Championships.
Read the full article at: www.ustfccca.org
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