Preseason poll ranks UW men seventh in nation
August 31, 2010 | Men's Cross Country
Aug. 31, 2010
MADISON, Wis. -- On Monday the Wisconsin men’s cross country team found itself ranked first in the Great Lakes Regional preseason poll and on Tuesday, the squad found its place in the nation landscape.
According to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Wisconsin is ranked seventh in the preseason national poll. Coincidentally, the Badgers placed seventh in last season’s NCAA Championship meet. UW returns four of the seven runners who competed in that race, including top finisher sophomore All-American Mohammed Ahmed.
Stanford, who finished 10th at the 2009 NCAA Championships, is ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll, one spot ahead of defending national champion Oklahoma State. Northern Arizona and Oregon are tied for the third spot, while Alabama and Colorado are ranked fifth and sixth just ahead of the Badgers.
A total of four Big Ten teams crack the USTFCCCA poll, including Wisconsin, Michigan State (21), Minnesota (26) and Indiana (27).
In addition to Wisconsin, seven of the teams in the USTFCCCA preseason poll will be competing in the Wisconsin adidas Invitational in Madison on Oct. 2. Syracuse is ranked No. 9, Oklahoma is 12th, Providence is 20th and Indiana checks in at 27th. Wisconsin adidas Invitational participants Florida, Ohio State and North Carolina are all receiving votes.
