Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Cross Country teams move up in polls
11/01/2005 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country
Nov. 1, 2005
By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University men's and women's cross country teams improved in their respective regional rankings this week. The men's cross country team comes in at #13 in the Midwest Region in the Nov. 1 poll by the United States Cross Country Coaches Association while the women move up to #9 in the Midwest Region in the Nov. 1 Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association poll.
The men's team started the season ranked #12 in the preseason poll, but fell out after the first week. The team made another appearance in the Oct. 4 poll (#15) before dropping out again.
The team moves back into the top 15 after taking third-place honors at last weekend's Missouri Valley Conference Championship. Senior Joe Byrne led the team with a personal-best time of 24:23.56 in the 8K, finishing third.
The women's team continues to improve in the regional rankings. The team was ranked #11 in the Oct. 2 poll, moving up one spot to #10 in the Oct. 16 poll.
The team moves up one more spot to #9 in the Nov. 1 poll following its third-place finish at the MVC Championship.
Junior Sarah Rinker led the team with a personal-best 17:00.52 in the 5K, finishing third overall.
The cross country teams take this weekend off before returning to action Nov. 12 at the NCAA Midwest Regionals in Iowa City, Iowa. The women will run a 6K at the event while the men run a 10K.
United States Cross Country Coaches Association
Midwest Region
Poll #5 (11/1)
1 - University of Kansas
2 - University of Minnesota
3 - University of Iowa
4 - Oklahoma State University
5 - Loyola-Chicago
6 - University of Missouri
7 - Iowa State University
8 - University of Illinois
9 - University of Tulsa
10 - Drake University
11 - Eastern Illinois University
12 - Kansas State University
13 - Southern Illinois University
14 - University of Nebraska
15 - Southeast Missouri State University
Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association
Midwest Region
Poll #5 (11/1)
1 - Oklahoma State University
2 - University of Illinois
3 - University of Minnesota
4 - University of Missouri
5 - Wichita State University
6 - University of Nebraska
7 - University of Iowa
8 - Missouri State University
9 - Southern Illinois University
10 - University of Northern Iowa
11 - University of Tulsa
12 - Illinois State University
13 - University of Kansas
14 - Loyola-Chicago
15 - Eastern Illinois University
