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WVU Ranks No. 7 in Mid-Atlantic
August 30, 2016 05:13 PM | Cross Country
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University cross country team is ranked No. 7 in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the preseason U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional rankings, announced on Monday, August 29.
It marks the ninth consecutive season WVU ranks in the preseason regional poll. The Mountaineers moved to the top 10 after ranking at No. 20 in 2014.
Teams that secured a spot in the top 10 of the Mid-Atlantic region are Penn State (No. 1), Georgetown (No. 2), Penn (No. 3), Princeton (No. 4), Villanova (No. 5), Pitt (No. 6), West Virginia (No. 7), La Salle (No. 8), Bucknell (No. 9) and Navy (No. 10).
“Looking at both the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region and the Big 12, we see 10 teams sitting in front of West Virginia,” said coach Sean Cleary. “We certainly have our work cut out for us. That said, it's August, and we have a lot of running in front of us before this season is in the books. I have faith in this group and what they are willing to sacrifice to ensure that they reach their potential.”
West Virginia is also receiving nine votes in the 2016 USTFCCCA preseason national rankings.
At the 2015 Big 12 Championship, the Mountaineers placed third, along with a fifth-place finish in the Mid-Atlantic Regional. Millie Paladino led WVU at the 2015 NCAA Championships placing 77th overall.
The 2016 squad will be led by three seniors - Peyton Hampson, Brianna Kerekes and Megan Yuan and six juniors Amy Cashin, Allie Diehl, Maggie Drazba, Jillian Forsey, Brynn Harshbarger and Rebecca Wendt. Additionally three freshmen have joined the roster, Antigone Archer, Abby Colbert and Sarah Wills.
The Mountaineers open the 2016 season Thursday, Sept.1, when they host the WVU Alumni Open, at 7 p.m., at the Mon River Rail Trail. West Virginia will open regular-season competition at the Texas Tech Invitational in Lubbock, Texas, on Sept. 8.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUCrossCountry on Twitter and Instagram.
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