Cross Country Ranked No. 20
August 26, 2014 05:51 PM | General
 |
| Cleary |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University cross country team is slotted at No. 20 in today’s U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason national rankings.
This marks the seventh straight season the Mountaineers have been ranked in the preseason poll and it’s their highest preseason ranking since 2010.
“Preseason rankings are as much a testament to past results as future success,” said eighth-year coach Sean Cleary. “It’s important to keep them in perspective and focus on what we need to focus on.”
Coming off its sixth NCAA qualification since 2007, West Virginia was tabbed No. 3 in the Mid-Atlantic Region preseason rankings released yesterday by the USTFCCCA.
The Mountaineers placed second at the 2013 Big 12 Cross Country Championships and posted a fourth-place finish at the 2013 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region meet. West Virginia went on to record a 24th-place finish at the 2013 NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana.
“The group that found a way into the National Championships last year truly maximized its potential. Should we do the same this year, we should be very pleased with the end results this fall,” Cleary said. “November is a very different season than August. The last few weeks have seen 90-degree temperatures and humidity. November traditionally brings 40-degree temperatures and rain at the NCAA meet. Our job is to negotiate the season with our sights firmly locked on November – time will tell.”
WVU’s key returners include junior Kelly Williams and sophomore Jillian Forsey who each earned all-region distinctions last season, joining two-time All-American Kaitlyn Gillespie who is back for her senior season.
West Virginia opens its 2014 campaign this Friday, Aug. 29, at the Lehigh Invitational in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
2026 Mountaineer Invitational Preview
Thursday, April 09
Nate Gabriel | April 8
Thursday, April 09
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 8
Thursday, April 09
Coach Rod West | April 8
Thursday, April 09
