Cross Country Teams Atop Preseason Regional Rankings - NC State University Official Athletic Site

Cross Country Teams Atop Preseason Regional Rankings Men Ranked First, Women Ranked Second in Season's First Poll

Redshirt-Senior Emily Pritt

Aug. 27, 2012

RALEIGH, N.C. - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its annual preseason regional rankings Monday, with the NC State men's and women's cross country programs ranked first and second, respectively.

Holding the top spot in the rankings, the Wolfpack men enter the season coming off their 15th ACC Championship and 14th in the last 21 seasons. The squad will also look to repeat as NCAA Southeast Region Champions after claiming last year's title for the first time since 2007, return 9 letterwinners from last year's team, including redshirt-junior and All-America Andrew Colley. The veteran group is led by redshirt-seniors Patrick Campbell and Brian Himelright. Campbell was a 2011 All-Region and an All-ACC selection in 2010, while Himelright was also an All-Region choice last season.

The women's cross country team received a No. 2 ranking, behind fellow ACC member Virginia. The Pack finished second at last year's Southeast Regional behind the Cavaliers, who have won the title in three of the last four seasons. Leading NC State are All-Americas Emily Pritt, a redshirt senior and junior Laura Hoer. Pritt, Hoer and sophomore Joanna Thompson each garnered All-ACC honors last season, while Hoer was also All-Region in 2011.

Both teams will open their 2012 seasons on Saturday, Sept. 8 when they host Saint Augustine's at 8 a.m.

2012 Preseason Southeast Region Rankings - Men  1. NC State  2. Eastern Kentucky  3. William & Mary   4. Virginia Tech  5. North Carolina  6. Louisville  7. Duke  8. Virginia  9. UNCG  10. Western Kentucky  11. Davidson  12. High Point  13. George Mason  14. Clemson  15. Kentucky

2012 Preseason Southeast Region Rankings - Women  1. Virginia  2. NC State  3. North Carolina  4. Clemson  5. Duke  6. Virginia Tech  7. James Madison  8. William & Mary  9. Kentucky  10. Richmond  11. Charlotte  12. Wake Forest  13. Elon  14. High Point  15. Liberty

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