UT Women’s Cross Country Moves Up National Rankings, Holds Onto Top Regional Spot
NEW ORLEANS - A hot start to the 2012 season by the University of Tampa women's cross country team has gained national attention as the Spartans are now No. 12 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll.
The Spartans opened the season at No. 15, and have moved up three spots following victories at the UT Early Bird Classic, USF Open and Jim Ryun Invitational. Tampa also finished fourth in a highly competitive UF Mountain Dew Invitational that featured predominantly NCAA Division I opponents.
Tampa's women have now been nationally-ranked for 60 consecutive weeks, a span dating back to the 2006 season.
Head coach Jarrett Slaven's team also appears at No. 1 in the NCAA South Region, with his men coming in at No. 7.
USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning team strength with current-season results in determining predicted team finishes at the NCAA Regional Championships.
UT returns to action on Sept. 29 at the Saint Leo Invitational.