MORGANTOWN, W.Va.  – The West Virginia University cross country team opens the season ranked No. 1 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Preseason Rankings and No. 5 in the National Preseason Poll.
 
 
Last year, WVU captured its first Mid-Atlantic regional title since 2008 and went on to earn a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, marking a historic season for the program. The team returns a strong core from that squad, led by All-American Joy Naukot and the experience of redshirt senior Emily Bryce, positioning the team to build on its momentum into 2025.
 
"Rankings are a fun way to evaluate how other people might feel about your program. Being ranked first is a wonderful tribute to the very special last 12 months that we have enjoyed. For the most part this is a brand new team with an entirely new story that has yet to be told," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "We will learn a lot more about ourselves in five to six weeks but for now, we plan to put ourselves into the very best position to maximize out potential come championship time."
 
West Virginia begins its 2025 campaign on Friday, Aug. 29, at the Lehigh Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa.
 
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