Cougar Harriers in Preseason Top 30

NEW -- Indicative of the national prowess the BYU cross country teams have garnered over the past few decades, both the men’s and women’s teams were ranked in the preseason Top 30 by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Picked to win the Mountain West Conference, the women’s team was given a 25th-place mark in the national poll and third place in the Mountain region.

“I like where we were ranked,” said BYU women’s head coach Patrick Shane. “It’s low enough that it deflects a little bit of pressure and will allow us to go unnoticed and move up over the course of the season. At this point of the season, rankings don’t matter so much.”

Washington was ranked first overall followed by Oregon, Florida State, West Virginia and Villanova. In region, the Cougars were behind Northern Arizona and Colorado for the top spots followed by New Mexico, Texas Tech and Colorado State.

The USTFCCCA also honored the men’s team with a high ranking as they were given the No. 12 spot in the national poll and were also selected third in region.

Oregon was selected for first place in the national poll followed by Oklahoma State, Stanford, Wisconsin, Northern Arizona and Colorado. BYU was preceded by Colorado and Northern Arizona in region while New Mexico, UTEP, Colorado State, Weber State and Air Force followed.

USTFCCCA Preseason Top 30
Women                              Men
1.  Washington                     1.  Oregon
2.  Oregon                         2.  Oklahoma State
3.  Florida State                  3.  Stanford
4.  West Virginia                  4.  Wisconsin
5.  Villanova                      5.  Northern Arizona
6.  Stanford                       6.  Colorado
7.  Princeton                      7.  Iona
8.  Minnesota                      8.  Portland
9.  Georgetown                     9.  Georgetown
10. Illinois                       10. Alabama
11. Arizona State                  11. Tulsa
12. Providence                     12. BYU
13. Baylor                         13. Auburn
14. Florida                        14. Virginia
15. Wisconsin                      15. William and Mary
16. Northern Arizona               16. Providence
17. Michigan State                 17. Minnesota
18. Virginia                       18. Arkansas
19. Michigan                       19. NC State
20. Rice                           20. Butler
21. Colorado                       21. Cal Poly
22. New Mexico                     22. Michigan
23. Syracuse                       23. Florida State
24. Texas Tech                     24. Washington
25. BYU                            25. Iowa State
26. Penn State                     26. New Mexico
27. Arkansas                       27. Notre Dame
28. Iowa State                     28. Penn State
29. Notre Dame                     29. Arizona State
30. Duke                           30. Villanova
Mountain Region                   Mountain Region
1. Northern Arizona                  1. Colorado
2. Colorado                          2. Northern Arizona
3. BYU                               3. BYU
4. New Mexico                        4. New Mexico
5. Texas Tech                        5. UTEP
6. Colorado State                    6. Colorado State