Men's Cross Country No. 1 in Preseason Regional Rankings
9/15/2008 12:00:00 AM
Sept. 15, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its 2008 Preseason Division 1 Regional Rankings and the University of Alabama men took top honors in the South Region.
"It's great to see that we are considered one of the better teams in the south," cross country coach Joe Walker said. "I truly feel that the South has three or four quality teams this year that will show up at the NCAA Championships and bring some respectability to our region."
The Tide has won five cross country region titles in the past nine years. They are currently the defending South Region Champions when they won last year with just 28 points. Alabama has not won back-to-back titles since they won three in a row from 1999-2001.
"Since we are the defending regional champions, it shows the consistency we have in our program," head track and field coach Harvey Glance said. "This is the stepping stone to nationals and to be in the number one position is where we aspire to be and I'm just glad we're in a situation to do that."
Alabama holds the number one ranking over seven other SEC schools, the closest being Auburn who is picked second. The ACC is well represented by Florida State at number three.
The 2008 NCAA South Region Cross Country Championships, hosted by The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., will be held Nov. 15.
South Men Preseason Rankings 1. Alabama 2. Auburn 3. Florida State 4. Florida 5. Belmont 6. Tennessee 7. Mississippi State 8. Georgia 9. Georgia State 10. Georgia Tech 11. Vanderbilt 12. East Tennessee State 13. Chattanooga 14. Jacksonville State 15. Mississippi
