Cross Country Teams Achieve Program-Best Regional Rankings
9/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
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Full USTFCCCA Release
NEW ORLEANS – When the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its first regional rankings since the preseason on Monday, Sept. 15, both Pitt men’s and women’s squads were featured in the Mid-Atlantic Region rankings together for what is believed to be the first time in program history.
Dating back to 2009, which is how far complete USTFCCCA records retrieve, no Pitt men’s or women’s cross country team was ranked higher than they are today. The women were bumped up seven spots from 14th to No. 7 following two successful weeks, which was the highest jump of any team in the country on the women’s side.
In the opening weekend, the Panthers were team champions at both the UB Stampede Invite and SHU Griffin Classic. On Saturday, Pitt placed fourth at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational, ahead of nationally-ranked No. 20 West Virginia.
Prior to today, Pitt’s previous best ranking was 12th, which it accomplished in the week-five poll last year.
Meanwhile, the men matched their all-time highest ranking in the regional rankings, jumping into the polls for the first time this year at No. 13. The last time the men were recognized in the rankings was the preseason poll in 2010, when they were 14th. During the 2009 season, Pitt’s men spent a total of three weeks at 13th, most recently the fifth week of the season.
The men put together similar results to the women in their first two weeks. After sweeping titles at the UB Stampede Invite and SHU Griffin Classic, the men finished a solid fifth at the Spiked Shoe Invitational on Saturday.
Pitt looks to continue rising in the rankings with another strong performance this weekend at nearby Latrobe, Pa. for the St. Vincent Invitational.