University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Women Ranked 21st in Preseason Poll
8/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
The Minnesota women’s cross country team was ranked 21st in the preseason U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Poll, released today. The Golden Gophers are coming off a 10th-place finish at the 2009 NCAA Championships and hold the distinction of being just one of two teams (Illinois) to post top-12 NCAA finishes in each of the last five seasons.
Despite winning the last three NCAA Midwest Region titles, the Gophers open the season ranked second in the region behind Iowa State. The teams will square off on Sept. 25 in a highly competitive Roy Griak Invitational race.
Villanova earned the preseason nod as the nation’s top-ranked team followed by Florida State, Washington, Texas Tech and Oregon. Minnesota led six Big Ten teams ranked in the poll with Michigan State (23), Penn State (24), Wisconsin (26), Michigan (27) and Iowa (29) also ranked.
Veteran head coach Gary Wilson enters his 26th season with the Gophers. After graduating large senior classes in each of the last two seasons, the Minnesota squad will experience a bit of a youth movement in 2010. The Gophers are led by six returning letterwinners topped by All-NCAA Midwest Region honorees Nikki Swenson, Stephanie Price and Kayla Wagner.
Minnesota once again boasts the largest team in the nation with 54 student-athletes. Of that total, 32 are either freshmen or sophomores.
The Gophers will run their annual Intrasquad Meet on Saturday, Sept. 4, at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights. Minnesota opens its season on Sept. 10 by hosting the Oz Memorial Run.
Despite winning the last three NCAA Midwest Region titles, the Gophers open the season ranked second in the region behind Iowa State. The teams will square off on Sept. 25 in a highly competitive Roy Griak Invitational race.
Villanova earned the preseason nod as the nation’s top-ranked team followed by Florida State, Washington, Texas Tech and Oregon. Minnesota led six Big Ten teams ranked in the poll with Michigan State (23), Penn State (24), Wisconsin (26), Michigan (27) and Iowa (29) also ranked.
Veteran head coach Gary Wilson enters his 26th season with the Gophers. After graduating large senior classes in each of the last two seasons, the Minnesota squad will experience a bit of a youth movement in 2010. The Gophers are led by six returning letterwinners topped by All-NCAA Midwest Region honorees Nikki Swenson, Stephanie Price and Kayla Wagner.
Minnesota once again boasts the largest team in the nation with 54 student-athletes. Of that total, 32 are either freshmen or sophomores.
The Gophers will run their annual Intrasquad Meet on Saturday, Sept. 4, at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights. Minnesota opens its season on Sept. 10 by hosting the Oz Memorial Run.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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