Regionally Ranked Cross Country Prepares For Pre-NCAA Meet
10/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Oct. 5, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - According to the national poll released Oct. 3, by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the Michigan State women's cross country team is ranked No. 22 in the nation and No. 4 in the Great Lakes Region. The Spartan men are currently ranked No. 6 in the Great Lakes Region.
"Its nice to be recognized nationally and by our peers," associate head coach Rita Arndt-Molis said. "Polls tend to get more reliant and relevant towards the middle of the season, as teams prove themselves in races. It's nice to see our women move up and our men remain fairly steady in the rankings.
"The Great Lakes Region is one of the strongest in the nation," Arndt-Molis added. "I believe seven men's teams advanced to the national meet last year and six women's. To be positioned with those teams is something with stride for."
Michigan State has competed in three races thus far in 2006, the Jeff Drenth Memorial (Sept. 1), Nike/Playmakers Spartan Invitational (Sept. 15) and the Roy Griak Invitational (Sept. 23). Since their last date of competition, the Spartans have been hard at work preparing for the Pre-NCAA meet on Oct. 14, in Terre Haute, Ind.
"We have been going back to work, going hard at the training, preparation and fitness," Arndt-Molis stated. "There has been good focus and the teams are anxious to get back to competition.
"As individuals step it up, the momentum carries over. Stephan Shay and Alissa McKaig have been setting the tone for each side the entire year, but now we are really starting to see others emerge. Jim Pancoast has made good progress and Nicole Bush has also come forward. As the season moves farther along, we will look to stir the polls up even more."
Players Mentioned
