Men’s Rankings | 2009 NCAA Teams/Individual Qualifiers
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Portland Pilots men’s cross country team nabbed the No. 4 spot in the nation in the final United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll, to match the highest national ranking in school history, after placing second at the NCAA West Regional Championships on Saturday. The Pilots earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Ind.
The Pilots jumped from seventh to fourth with 317 points to move ahead of the now No. 6 Colorado, No. 8 Oregon and No. 13 Northern Arizona. Portland defeated the Ducks by 25 points at Regionals. Stanford remained the top team in the poll and has had the ranking for the last six polls. The Cardinal earned 11 first-place votes to take the top spot with 359 points, while Oklahoma State is No. 2 with 349 points and Alabama is No. 3 with 326 points.
“Considering the fact we lined up a young squad of five freshmen and a sophomore at the Regionals last weekend, its amazing to get a No. 4 ranking,” said head coach Rob Conner. “Honestly we are a little over ranked given the distance our fifth man is behind our fourth man but we will take it. My goal all season has been a top-10 national finish so that is the framework I am working from.”
The Portland men will compete at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Monday, Nov. 23 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course located at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, Ind. The men’s race will begin at approximately 9:08 a.m. Pacific time, followed by the women’s race at approximately 9:58 a.m. Both championship races will be broadcast live on Versus Network and streamed online via NCAA.com.
Pilot fans are invited to watch a LIVE screening of the event in on campus at the Buckley Center Auditorium starting at 8:45 a.m. Pacific time.