USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Rankings - Nov. 3 (pdf)
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Following their 31st consecutive West Coast Conference championship, the Portland men’s cross country team jumped up to No. 7 in the latest USTFCCCA NCAA Division I rankings, released on Tuesday. Portland moved up one spot from the previous week’s ranking.
The Pilots improved their ranking by continuing their dominance of the WCC by extending their streak of 31 titles, the longest in the WCC for any sport. Sophomore All-America Alfred Kipchumba set a course record at the Crystal Springs Course. Head coach Rob Conner was named the WCC Coach of the Year for the sixth time. He ran four freshmen, two sophomores and a junior. All seven runners finished among the top 25 out of 55 total harriers.
A consistent national contender, Portland has qualified for the NCAA championship meet ten times since 1993. Seven of those teams have earned top 20 finishes, including each of the last four seasons. The 2008 Pilots tied a program-best seventh-place finish at the NCAA meet.
Noteworthy regular season rankings include No. 5 in 1996; No. 6 in 2001; No. 7 in 2007; and No. 4 in 2008. The squad opened the 2009 season ranked No. 8 despite losing All-American David Kinsella to graduation.
Portland next competes at the NCAA West Regional which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Ore.
Top Portland Regular Season National Rankings:
1993: 4th
1996: 5th
2001: 6th
2007: 7th
2008: 4th
2009: 7th