Colorado State University Athletics
Rams’ men remain ranked 18th by USTFCCCA in week one poll
9/12/2017 1:14:00 PM | Cross Country
CSU’s men remain ranked fifth regionally; Rams’ women rise to No. 6 in Mountain Region
NEW ORLEANS – The Colorado State men's cross country team remains ranked at No. 18 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association's (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll. The organization's week one poll was released on Tuesday.
The No. 18 ranking for the Rams' men is their highest in week one since 2002, when they were ranked 16th. The Rams' No. 18 ranking in the preseason poll was also their highest preseason position since 2002. CSU men's cross country has been ranked for 31 consecutive weeks under sixth-year head cross country coach Art Siemers, dating back to the week three poll in 2013. CSU remains the highest-ranked men's cross country team in the Mountain West, topping Boise State (No. 24) and Air Force (receiving votes).
Last time out, CSU ran part of its men's squad at its annual home meet, the CSU Duals. Highlighting top men's performers was CSU junior Trent Powell, who placed second on the men's side individually and was named the Mountain West Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week the following Monday. Among the athletes that Powell beat at the CSU Duals were All-Americans Joe Klecker and Zach Perrin from Colorado.
The Rams' men remained ranked at fifth in the Mountain Region in the USTFCCCA's 2017 NCAA Division I Week One Regional Rankings. CSU's men finished fourth in the Mountain Region last season, placing behind only three of the nation's top seven teams (No. 1 Northern Arizona, No. 6 Colorado, No. 7 BYU). The Rams rank only behind those three teams – all top-six squads nationally – and No. 16 Southern Utah.
CSU's women's squad moved up to a No. 6 ranking in the Mountain Region, placing only behind three top-10 teams - No. 1 Colorado, No. 3 New Mexico, No. 10 BYU – as well as No. 22 Utah and No. 30 Utah State. The Rams jumped preseason No. 29 Air Force after placing well ahead of the Falcons and only one point behind preseason No. 1 Colorado at the CSU Duals. Darby Gilfillan was the top collegian in the women's 5k, placing ahead of multiple All-Americans. Gilfillan was named the Mountain West Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week as the Rams swept the conference's weekly honors.
Gilfillan is the first CSU woman to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships in back-to-back seasons since 2008-09 (Ellie Rastall), and highlights returners on the women's side in 2017. 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). Each of Gilfillan (first place), Spillar (fifth), Kallner (eighth) and Kreutz (10th) placed among the top 10 collegians at the CSU Duals.
The Rams finished as the nation's No. 17 men's team in 2016, marking the program's highest national finish since 2003. Three All-Americans are back from that squad, including Jerrell Mock (2017 outdoor, 2017 indoor, 2016 indoor, 2015 cross country), Grant Fischer (2017 outdoor, 2017 indoor) and Cole Rockhold (honorable mention – 2017 outdoor; 2017 indoor). Mock was the Rams' top individual in 2016, counting a victory at the Roy Griak Invitational and a runner-up finish at the Mountain West Championships among his top performances.
The Colorado State cross country team continues its 2017 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Roy Griak Invitational. The prestigious meet is hosted by the University of Minnesota, and is held from the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.
The No. 18 ranking for the Rams' men is their highest in week one since 2002, when they were ranked 16th. The Rams' No. 18 ranking in the preseason poll was also their highest preseason position since 2002. CSU men's cross country has been ranked for 31 consecutive weeks under sixth-year head cross country coach Art Siemers, dating back to the week three poll in 2013. CSU remains the highest-ranked men's cross country team in the Mountain West, topping Boise State (No. 24) and Air Force (receiving votes).
Last time out, CSU ran part of its men's squad at its annual home meet, the CSU Duals. Highlighting top men's performers was CSU junior Trent Powell, who placed second on the men's side individually and was named the Mountain West Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week the following Monday. Among the athletes that Powell beat at the CSU Duals were All-Americans Joe Klecker and Zach Perrin from Colorado.
The Rams' men remained ranked at fifth in the Mountain Region in the USTFCCCA's 2017 NCAA Division I Week One Regional Rankings. CSU's men finished fourth in the Mountain Region last season, placing behind only three of the nation's top seven teams (No. 1 Northern Arizona, No. 6 Colorado, No. 7 BYU). The Rams rank only behind those three teams – all top-six squads nationally – and No. 16 Southern Utah.
CSU's women's squad moved up to a No. 6 ranking in the Mountain Region, placing only behind three top-10 teams - No. 1 Colorado, No. 3 New Mexico, No. 10 BYU – as well as No. 22 Utah and No. 30 Utah State. The Rams jumped preseason No. 29 Air Force after placing well ahead of the Falcons and only one point behind preseason No. 1 Colorado at the CSU Duals. Darby Gilfillan was the top collegian in the women's 5k, placing ahead of multiple All-Americans. Gilfillan was named the Mountain West Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week as the Rams swept the conference's weekly honors.
Gilfillan is the first CSU woman to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships in back-to-back seasons since 2008-09 (Ellie Rastall), and highlights returners on the women's side in 2017. 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). Each of Gilfillan (first place), Spillar (fifth), Kallner (eighth) and Kreutz (10th) placed among the top 10 collegians at the CSU Duals.
The Rams finished as the nation's No. 17 men's team in 2016, marking the program's highest national finish since 2003. Three All-Americans are back from that squad, including Jerrell Mock (2017 outdoor, 2017 indoor, 2016 indoor, 2015 cross country), Grant Fischer (2017 outdoor, 2017 indoor) and Cole Rockhold (honorable mention – 2017 outdoor; 2017 indoor). Mock was the Rams' top individual in 2016, counting a victory at the Roy Griak Invitational and a runner-up finish at the Mountain West Championships among his top performances.
The Colorado State cross country team continues its 2017 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Roy Griak Invitational. The prestigious meet is hosted by the University of Minnesota, and is held from the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.
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