Tampa Women’s Cross Country Ranked No. 13 In Preseason Poll
NEW ORLEANS - The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has released its preseason NCAA Division II women's cross country rankings, with the University of Tampa entering the year at No. 13.
The defending Sunshine State Conference and NCAA II South Region champions return three all-SSC runners in Heather Nicolosi, Lindsay Edwards and Kaia Hampton. Nicolosi, the 2010 SSC and South Region Runner of the Year, will be joined at the top of the UT lineup by 2008 South Region Runner of the Year Jess Butler, who returns after redshirting last season.
Four-time defending South Region Coach of the Year Jarrett Slaven welcomes back each of its top five runners from a 2010 season where it advanced to the NCAA Championships in Louisville, Ky.
No stranger to the national spotlight, UT has now been ranked in a program-best 50 consecutive top-25 polls dating back to the 2006 season. This also marks the fifth straight preseason poll that has involved the Spartans.
Tampa will open the 2011 campaign on Friday, Sept. 2, at its own UT Early Bird Classic. The race will begin at 6 p.m., at Dover Trails.
The Spartans have also been selected to host the 2011 NCAA Division II South Regional, which is slated for Nov. 5. The race will also be held at Dover Trails.
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