Cross Country/Track
SBU men's XC 20th nationally; second regionally
By
Aug 26, 2009, 19:10

NEW ORLEANS -- The SBU men's cross country team, the preseason MIAA favorite to repeat as league champions, were tabbed for 20th in the national poll and second in the South Central region, in preseason rankings released by the USTFCCA. The SBU women were also picked for seventh in the regional rankings.

SBU head coach Corey McElhaney, the 2008 MIAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, has nine of his top ten male runners of a year ago back, as well as 2007 All-American Michael Pierce returning from a injury redshirt. The Bearcats were picked to repeat as MIAA champions by the MIAA coaches, and were a slight favorite over Missouri Southern. The MSSU Lions (24th) and the Pittsburg State Gorillas (21st) were the other MIAA squads to appear in the national rankings.

On the women's side, SBU was seventh in the South Central preseason regional rankings released by the USTFCCA. The MIAA preseason favorite, Missouri Southern, was tabbed as the region's top team, along with Pittsburg State (4th), Truman (6th) and Central Missouri (8th). Nationally, Missouri Southern was 13th while Pitt State was 25th.

The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) selects the top 25 national teams in men's and women's cross country, as well as the top 10 teams in eight regions. The first regular season polls will be released on September 15-16 and will go throughout the season until the final polls on November 10-11.

Both the SBU men's and women's programs open their 2009 season on Friday, September 11 at the UCM Mule Run in Warrensburg, Mo.

For the complete list of all USTFCCCA preseason rankings, click here.


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