Women’s Cross Country Open Season Ranked #25

Preseason Nod First Ranking Since Middle of 2004

09/12/06 2:22PM

WILLIAMSBURG - William and Mary fans have plenty to smile about this afternoon, as the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its preseason cross country poll, with the Tribe debuting at No. 25. Defending NCAA champions Stanford earned top billing in the poll as it returns five All-Americans.

The ranking for W&M is the program’s first since being ranked 22nd midway through October in 2004. Also picked fourth in the Southeast Region, the College returns 10 of the top 12 runners from last year. In 2005, William and Mary upset North Carolina in the regional championship and earned its first trip to the NCAA Championships since 2002. Behind all-conference honorees Meghan Bishop (Blue Bell, PA) and Julia Cathcart (Starkville, MS), the Tribe finished 23rd and nearly upset the Tar Heels again.

W&M’s next race will be this Saturday, September 16, at the James Madison Open in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

USTFCCCA Division I women's cross country poll
(Sept. 12, 2006)

1. Stanford
2. Colorado
3. Michigan
4. Oklahoma State
5. BYU
6. Illinois
7. Duke
8. Arkansas
9. Arizona State
10. Wisconsin
11. Princeton
12. North Carolina State
13. Baylor
14. Tennessee
15. Iowa
16. Minnesota
17. Boston University
18. Marquette
19. Florida State
20. Providence
21. Washington
22. North Carolina
23. Michigan State
24. Georgetown
25. William & Mary
26. Virginia
27. Colorado State
28. Wake Forest
29. Indiana
30. Oregon

Other schools receiving votes: Boston College, Butler, Notre Dame, Georgia, LaSalle, Northern Arizona, Villanova, Rice, Columbia, Weber State, UCLA, Texas Tech, Washington State, Alabama-Birmingham, UC Santa Barbara.