Cross Country Garners High Preseason Regional Ranks
Monday, September 14, 2009 | Cross Country
The University of Florida men's and women's cross country teams earned high preseason regional rankings, according the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll released Monday. The women were picked second and the men fourth in the South Region.
This marked the second straight year the Gators were picked second and fourth in the preseason poll. In 2008, both UF teams placed exactly where ranked at the NCAA South Regional meet in November. The women's second-place finish earned them an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, where they finished 17th. The men finished fourth in the region, which was held in Knoxville, Tenn.
On the women's side, in-state rival Florida State earned the top spot in the preseason poll. The Gators will have the chance to face the Seminoles early in the season on FSU's home turf, as UF travels to Tallahassee on Oct. 10 for the FSU Invitational. Southeastern Conference foes Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia, Vanderbilt and Alabama fill the three through seven spots of the region poll, while UAB, Samford and Middle Tennessee State round out the top 10.
For the men, Alabama earned the top spot, followed by Auburn and Florida State. South Alabama, Tennessee, East Tennessee State, Mississippi State, Georgia and Middle Tennessee State finish off the top 10.
The Gators begin their season on Friday, Sept. 18 with the 21st Annual Mountain Dew Invitational, held on the UF Golf Course. The women's collegiate 5K race will start at 6:30 p.m. and the men's 8K is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
Division I Men's and Women's South Region Cross Country Rankings - Preseason
Sept. 14, 2009
| Men | Women |
| 1. Alabama | 1. Florida State |
| 2. Auburn | 2. FLORIDA |
| 3. Florida State | 3. Tennessee |
| 4. FLORIDA | 4. Auburn |
| 5. South Alabama | 5. Georgia |
| 6. Tennessee | 6. Vanderbilt |
| 7. East Tennessee State | 7. Alabama |
| 8. Mississippi State | 8. UAB |
| 9. Georgia | 9. Samford |
| 10. Middle Tennessee State | 10. Middle Tennessee State |
| 11. Belmont | 11. Jacksonville |
| 12. Chattanooga | 12. Chattanooga |
| 13. Ole Miss | 13. Mississippi State |
| 14. Georgia State | 14. Belmont |
| 15. Lipscomb | 15. Georgia Tech |
