Colorado State University Athletics
Rams’ men enter 2017 cross country season ranked 18th by USTFCCCA
8/29/2017 1:04:00 PM | Cross Country
Rams’ men fifth in the Mountain Region; CSU women ranked seventh regionally
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State cross country's men's team will enter its 2017 season ranked as the No. 18 team in the nation by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA). The organization's NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country Preseason National Coaches' Poll was released on Tuesday.
No. 18 is the second-highest preseason ranking the Rams' men have ever received from the USTFCCCA, and their highest preseason position since 2002. Colorado State cross country has been ranked in the preseason in each year dating back to 2014 under sixth-year head cross country coach Art Siemers. CSU is the highest-ranked men's cross country team in the Mountain West, topping Boise State (No. 24) and Air Force (receiving votes).
CSU's men finished as the nation's No. 17 team in 2016, marking the program's best national finish since 2003. The Rams return three All-Americans on the men's side, including seniors Jerrell Mock (2017 outdoor, 2017 indoor, 2016 indoor, 2015 cross country) and Grant Fischer (2017 outdoor, 2017 indoor) as well as junior Cole Rockhold (honorable mention – 2017 outdoor; 2017 indoor). Individually, Mock won the Roy Griak Invitational and placed second at the Mountain West Championships during the 2016 cross country season.
The Rams' men were also ranked fifth in the Mountain Region in the USTFCCCA's 2017 NCAA Division I Preseason Regional Rankings. CSU's men's team placed fourth regionally last season behind only three of the nation's top seven teams (No. 1 Northern Arizona, No. 6 Colorado, No. 7 BYU) at the 2016 NCAA Mountain Regional. CSU's women's squad enters this upcoming campaign ranked seventh regionally.
Highlighting returners for the women's team is senior Darby Gilfillan, who has qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships in each of the past two seasons. The Denver, Colo., native is the first Ram to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships in back-to-back seasons since Ellie Rastall in 2008-09. Also returning for the Rams' women are All-Mountain West performers Ali Kallner (2015 cross country), Macy Kreutz (800 meters, 4x400-meter relay in 2017) and McKenna Spillar (10,000 meters in 2017).
The Colorado State cross country team opens its 2017 season this Friday with its annual home meet, the CSU Duals. Friday's action will take place on a course in front of Hughes Stadium, and will begin at 4 p.m. MT with high school competition. The college women's 5k is set to begin at 6 p.m. MT, while the college men's 5k is slated for 6:30 p.m. MT. Information on the CSU Duals can be found here.
No. 18 is the second-highest preseason ranking the Rams' men have ever received from the USTFCCCA, and their highest preseason position since 2002. Colorado State cross country has been ranked in the preseason in each year dating back to 2014 under sixth-year head cross country coach Art Siemers. CSU is the highest-ranked men's cross country team in the Mountain West, topping Boise State (No. 24) and Air Force (receiving votes).
CSU's men finished as the nation's No. 17 team in 2016, marking the program's best national finish since 2003. The Rams return three All-Americans on the men's side, including seniors Jerrell Mock (2017 outdoor, 2017 indoor, 2016 indoor, 2015 cross country) and Grant Fischer (2017 outdoor, 2017 indoor) as well as junior Cole Rockhold (honorable mention – 2017 outdoor; 2017 indoor). Individually, Mock won the Roy Griak Invitational and placed second at the Mountain West Championships during the 2016 cross country season.
The Rams' men were also ranked fifth in the Mountain Region in the USTFCCCA's 2017 NCAA Division I Preseason Regional Rankings. CSU's men's team placed fourth regionally last season behind only three of the nation's top seven teams (No. 1 Northern Arizona, No. 6 Colorado, No. 7 BYU) at the 2016 NCAA Mountain Regional. CSU's women's squad enters this upcoming campaign ranked seventh regionally.
Highlighting returners for the women's team is senior Darby Gilfillan, who has qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships in each of the past two seasons. The Denver, Colo., native is the first Ram to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships in back-to-back seasons since Ellie Rastall in 2008-09. Also returning for the Rams' women are All-Mountain West performers Ali Kallner (2015 cross country), Macy Kreutz (800 meters, 4x400-meter relay in 2017) and McKenna Spillar (10,000 meters in 2017).
The Colorado State cross country team opens its 2017 season this Friday with its annual home meet, the CSU Duals. Friday's action will take place on a course in front of Hughes Stadium, and will begin at 4 p.m. MT with high school competition. The college women's 5k is set to begin at 6 p.m. MT, while the college men's 5k is slated for 6:30 p.m. MT. Information on the CSU Duals can be found here.
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