University of Southern Indiana Men’s and Women’s Cross Country begins the year in a familiar spot as both teams are in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association Preseason Top 25 rankings.
The Screaming Eagles are ranked No. 11 in the men’s poll, while the women start the year ranked No. 16.
USI’s men return a plethora of talent, led by two-time reigning GLVC champion Austin Nolan (Evansville, Indiana) and sophomore All-American Titus Winders (Mansfield, Tennessee).
The duo finished first and second, respectively, at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship last year, leading the Eagles to their 14th consecutive conference title and 15th in the last 16 years. Winders went on to finish first at the NCAA II Midwest Region Championships, while the 30th-place finish at last year’s national meet netted him All-America honors in his rookie campaign.
Senior Hope-Jones (Cumberland, Indiana) and junior Jennifer Comastri (Indianapolis, Indiana) return to lead the women’s squad in 2019. Jones, who sat out last fall, earned second-team All-America honors on the track last spring, while Comastri was fifth at last year’s GLVC meet.
USI begins the season September 13 when it hosts the Stegemoller Classic at Angel Mounds in Evansville, Indiana. The Eagles also host the GLVC Championships October 26 as well as the NCAA II Midwest Region Championships November 9.
