Badger Men Retain Top Spot
October 18, 2006 | Men's Cross Country
The Wisconsin men's cross country team retained the top spot in the latest U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll released Tuesday.
While many of the nation's top teams chose to run in the Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind., the Badgers instead competed at the Jim Drews Invitational in La Crosse, Wis., winning the team title for the fourth consecutive year. Two other top teams, No. 8 Portland and No. 12 Minnesota, also competed at the Drews, placing second and third, respectively.
Wisconsin received 13 of the 15 first-place votes this week, down from 14 in the previous poll. The other two first place votes went to Colorado and UTEP, both of whom had strong performances over the weekend.
Colorado's victory in the Blue race at Saturday's Pre-Nationals propelled them to the No. 2 spot in the rankings. Iona won the White race at Pre-Nationals and is ranked third.
No. 4 UTEP jumped seven spots after its 64-77 upset victory over then No. 2 Arkansas at the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. Stanford, who finished a close second to Iona in the White race, dropped from third to fifth, while Arkansas dropped five spots to No. 6.
The Badgers are idle this week and will next compete Oct. 29th at the Big Ten Championship in Bloomington, Ind. Wisconsin will be looking for its eight straight team title.
