Wisconsin #1 In 2007 PreSeason Men's Cross Country Rankings
by: USTFCCCA
September 11, 2007
*Regional Rankings Here

NEW ORLEANS - If the first Division I men’s poll of the season is a reliable indicator; this should be a very interesting cross country season at the national level. 

Wisconsin claimed the top spot in the poll released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Badgers received five first-place votes to tabulating 379 points.  

Second-ranked Colorado picked up four first-place votes. Third-ranked Iona and fourth-ranked Oregon received one and three first-place votes, respectively.  

Rounding out the top 10 are Arkansas, Stanford, UTEP, Oklahoma State, Texas and North Carolina State. 

The second 10 consists of Providence, William & Mary, Notre Dame, Portland, Louisville, Georgetown, Alabama, Minnesota, BYU and Northern Arizona. 

Rounding out the top 30 are Michigan State, UCLA, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Florida State, Iowa State, Michigan, Princeton, Virginia and Florida (tied for 28^th), and Washington. 

The voting panel for the USTFCCCA Division I women's poll consists of nine elected regional representatives, four at-large members of the USTFCCCA and compiled by Don Kopriva.  

Wisconsin started the 2006 season ranked first in the nation and held its position heading into the NCAA Championships, where the Badgers were defending their 2005 title. But top runner Chris Solinsky finished a sub-par 73^rd and the Badgers finished second in the team race to Colorado. 

While Solinsky graduated, Wisconsin still has a strong, deep squad. Stuart Eagon finished third at last year’s NCAA meet, and the Badgers expect to see results from their talented group of sophomores. 

Colorado returns four runners from the seven-man team that won last year’s national title, including Brent Vaughn (12^th) and Stephen Pifer (20^th). Colorado coach Mark Wetmore expects as many as 10 or 12 underclassmen competing for spots in his team’s top seven. 

“We feel the same expectations and aspirations every year, and that’s to be the best we can,” Wetmore said. “If it adds up to a national championship, that’s wonderful.” 

Iona, the third-place finisher at last year’s NCAA meet, returns six of its top seven runners. Mohamed Khadroui placed 13^th at nationals as an Iona sophomore. 

The fourth-ranked Ducks return five of their top seven runners from a year ago after finishing tied for fifth place at the NCAA meet a year ago.   

The 2007 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships will be held Nov. 19 in Terre Haute, Indiana. 

Division I Men’s Cross Country rankings

Sept. 11, 2007

(first-place votes in parentheses) 

*Regional Rankings Here

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