TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The
Alabama men’s cross country team is 19
th in the first national rankings of the 2006 season.
“The first rankings of the season are usually pretty close to the final finishes from last year,” Alabama cross country coach Joe Walker said. “I think it’s pretty fair in terms of where we are at the moment, but we are definitely looking to move up from here.”
Alabama finished 21st at last year’s NCAA Championships, its highest national finish since 1997. The core of last year’s team were freshmen and returned for year two. The Tide’s lineup includes four All-Southeastern Conference runners.
Alabama got things started this season with a decisive win at the UTC-Opener last weekend in Nashville, Tenn. Alabama took the top-3 spots and was 40 points better than runner-up Tennessee. Alabama posted a 1-2-3 sweep in the individual race, led by freshman Emmanuel Bor.
The Crimson Tide returns to action this Friday as hosts of the Crimson Classic at the Harry Pritchett Cross Country Course. The women’s collegiate race starts at 5 p.m. while the men’s race gets underway at 5:30 p.m.
