University of Minnesota Athletics
'U' Jumps to No. 18 in USTFCCCA National Poll
10/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
USTFCCCA Rankings
MINNEAPOLIS - After an impressive performance last weekend at the Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational, the University of Minnesota men's cross country program jumped to No. 18 in this week's U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll.
The Gophers, who received votes in last week's poll, vaulted into the top 20 following the team's 12th-place finish in Madison that saw the Maroon & Gold best eight nationally ranked teams.
"We're headed in the right direction for sure," Minnesota Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia said. "We had a really nice performance last weekend in Madison, and we want to keep that going later this month at Big Tens."
For Minnesota, this week's ranking marks the program's first appearance in the national poll since coming in at No. 16 on Nov. 16, 2015. The Gophers closed out the 2015 season at No. 19 in the final rankings on Nov. 21, 2015 although those rankings reflect results at the national championships.
The Gophers return to action with the 2017 Big Ten Cross Country Championships in Bloomington, Ind., on Sunday, Oct. 29.
