The University of Southern Indiana men’s cross country team moved up one spot to No. 5 in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association Top 25 Coaches’ Poll; while the Screaming Eagles’ women slipped two spots to No. 15.
USI’s men earn their first appearance in the top five as they head into the biggest meet of the regular season. The Eagles men and women compete at the Greater Louisville Classic in Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday at 8 a.m. (CDT).
This weekend’s meet is the first time this year that the Eagles will compete in favorable running temperatures after racing at the Stegemoller Classic in early September and the Indiana Intercollegiate two weeks ago. With temperatures in the mid-90s at the Stegemoller Classic and the upper-80s at the Indiana Intercollegiate, the Eagles have not seen their full race day potential.
Saturday’s meet also allows the Eagles to run in a crowded field that features several nationally-ranked teams, including No. 1 Grand Valley State University in the men’s field as well as No. 1 Hillsdale College in the women’s field.
USI’s men, who are No. 2 in the latest USTFCCCA Midwest Region rankings, are one of two Great Lakes Valley Conference programs to earn a spot in this week’s national rankings. The University of Wisconsin-Parkside joined the Eagles at No. 12 after being ranked No. 10 a week ago.
This week marks the first time this season that Grand Valley State’s men have been ranked No. 1 and the second week in a row that Hillsdale’s women have been ranked No. 1. Grand Valley State is one of five men’s programs from the Midwest Region to garner a position in the Top 25, with Saginaw Valley State University and Malone University coming in at No. 21 and No. 25, respectively.
USI’s women, who are No. 6 in the latest Midwest Region rankings, are one of four GLVC teams and eight Midwest Region programs to earn a spot in this week’s national poll. Bellarmine University and Lewis University are ranked No. 10 and No. 13, respectively, while UW-Parkside is No. 21.
Hillsdale, Grand Valley State (No. 3), Northern Michigan University (No. 9) and Malone (No. 17) are also representing the Midwest Region.
