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WVU Ranked at No. 10
September 01, 2015 05:54 PM | Cross Country
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University cross country team is positioned at No. 10 in the most recent U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason national rankings, announced on Tuesday.
It marks the eighth straight season WVU ranks in the preseason poll. The Mountaineers moved to the top 10 after ranking at No. 20 in 2014.
Teams that secure a spot in the top 10 are Iowa State (No. 1), New Mexico (No. 2), Michigan State (No. 3), Colorado (No. 4), Georgetown (No. 5), Oregon (No. 6), Stanford (No. 7), Providence (No. 8), Arkansas (No. 9) and West Virginia (No.10).
“Starting the year as a top-10 team in the country is more of a reflection of past teams, than our current group,” said coach Sean Cleary. “This year’s team has a great opportunity to regain its place with the nation’s best, but they must keep their eyes on the task at hand."
Coach Sean Cleary guided the Mountaineers to six NCAA appearances during his head coaching tenure.
At the 2014 Big 12 Championship, the team placed second overall for the second straight season, along with a second-place finish at the 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. At the 2014 NCAA Championship, the Mountaineers placed eighth overall, marking their fifth top-10 finish since 2007.
“We have a very strong and capable team. In time, we will see how strong we are,” said Cleary.
Thirteen letterwinners return to the team along with six of the seven runners that competed at the 2014 NCAA Championship, including All-American Jillian Forsey, who placed 14th and Elite 89 Award winner Kelly Williams.
The Mountaineers open the 2015 season Tuesday, Sept.1, when they host the WVU Alumni Open, at 7 p.m., at the Mon River Rail Trail.
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