LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has announced its preseason national cross country rankings for NCAA Division II, and Bellarmine University checked in at No. 24.
Bellarmine Head Coach
Jim Vargo said it is the highest ranking a Bellarmine team has enjoyed since the 1980s. The 2010 team welcomes back three All-Great Lakes Valley Conference performers.
Nate Dotterweich and
Jordan Parayil earned that distinction a year ago, and
Ben Draper--who redshirted last year--was a 2008 all conference performer.
The USTFCCCA pegged defending national champion Adams State as the top team in 2010. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has four squads in the national men's top 25 including Adams State, No. 2 Western State, and No. 3 Colorado Mines. The GLVC has three league members in the men's top 25.
The 2010 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Bellarmine University on Dec. 4 at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park. The next national rankings will be released on September 22.
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USTFCCCA
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NCAA Division II
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Men's Cross Country National Team Rankings
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2010 Preseason, August 25
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next ranking: September 21
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Rank
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Institution
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Region
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Conference
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Location
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2009 FINISH
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1
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Adams State
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Central
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RMAC
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Alamosa, Colo.
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1
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2
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Western State
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Central
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RMAC
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Gunnison, Colo.
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2
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3
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Colorado Mines
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Central
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RMAC
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Golden, Colo.
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3
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4
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Grand Valley State
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Midwest
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GLIAC
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Allendale, Mich.
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5
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5
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Chico State
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West
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CCAA
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Chico, Calif.
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8
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6
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Western Washington
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West
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GNAC
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Bellingham, Wash.
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4
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7
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Queens (N.C.)
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Southeast
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Conf. Carolinas
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Charlotte, N.C.
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7
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8
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Southern Indiana
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Midwest
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GLVC
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Evansville, Ind.
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6
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9
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Harding
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South
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Gulf South
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Searcy, Ark.
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9
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10
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Augustana (S.D.)
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Central
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NSIC
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Sioux Falls, S.D.
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10
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11
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Shippensburg
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Atlantic
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PSAC
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Shippensburg, Pa.
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13
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12
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Edinboro
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Atlantic
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PSAC
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Edinboro, Pa.
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12
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13
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UMass Lowell
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East
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Northeast-10
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Lowell, Mass.
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16
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14
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Metro State
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Central
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RMAC
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Denver, Colo.
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14
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15
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Lock Haven
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Atlantic
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PSAC
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Lock Haven, Pa.
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16
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Alaska Anchorage
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West
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GNAC
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Anchorage, Alaska
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17
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17
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American International
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East
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Northeast-10
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Springfield, Mass.
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18
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Drury
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Midwest
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GLVC
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Springfield, Mo.
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19
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Stonehill
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East
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Northeast-10
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Easton, Mass.
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21
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20
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Western Oregon
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West
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GNAC
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Monmouth, Ore.
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21
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Columbus State
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Southeast
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Peach Belt
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Columbus, Ga.
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19
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22
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Tarleton State
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South Central
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Lone Star
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Stephenville, Texas
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23
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Pittsburg State
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South Central
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MIAA
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Pittsburg, Kan.
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18
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24
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Bellarmine
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Midwest
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GLVC
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Louisville, Ky.
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25
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Fort Hays State
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South Central
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MIAA
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Hays, Kan.
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