MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY CLIMBS ONE SPOT TO NO. 26 IN NATIONAL POLL
NEW ORLEANS – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s cross country team climbed one spot to No. 26 in the latest U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national poll, released on Tuesday.
The Colonels, ranked No. 2 in the Southeast Region behind North Carolina State, sent a clear message this weekend at the Vanderbilt Commodore Classic: even without their best runner, they are a deep and dangerous team. Junior Soufiane Bouchikhi, the two-time Ohio Valley Conference Male Runner of the Year, did not compete on Saturday, but EKU used overwhelming depth to place nine runners in the top-30 and cruise to a win over a talented, 24-team field that featured the likes of Georgia (No. 30 in the nation, No. 2 in the South Region), Tennessee (No. 5 in the South Region), Mississippi State (No. 7 in the South Region), Ole Miss (No. 9 in the South Region) and OVC newcomer Belmont (No. 13 in the South Region).
Sophomore Ben Toroitch stepped up in Bouchikhi’s absence and led the way on Saturday, finishing third out of 197 competitors and covering the 8K course in 24:41.72. Fellow sophomore Thijs Nijhuis was right behind Toroitich in fourth place (24:46.98), while junior Wade Meddles (seventh / 24:49.21), sophomore Ole Hesselbjerg (eighth / 24:56.18) and freshman Amos Kosgey (10th / 24:57.58) rounded out the Colonels’ top-five.
At No. 26, EKU is now positioned just ahead of UCLA (No. 27) and Washington State (No. 28) and just behind Oregon (No. 25), New Mexico (No. 24), Notre Dame (No. 23) and Arkansas (No. 22). Wisconsin remains the nation’s top-ranked team, with Oklahoma State not far behind at No. 2.
The EKU men return to action two weekends from now on Friday, September 28, at the Notre Dame Classic in South Bend, Ind.
EKU Women Ascend to No. 10 in the Southeast Region
The EKU men’s cross country team was not the only one making moves in the rankings this week. The EKU women climbed three spots from No. 13 to No. 10 in the most recent USTFCCCA Southeast Region rankings.
The move comes after a strong showing this weekend at the Vanderbilt Commodore Classic. EKU finished third in a field of 24 teams, defeating such teams as Mississippi State (No. 5 in the South Region), Georgia (No. 6 in the South Region) and Alabama (No. 8 in the South Region) and losing only to host Vanderbilt (No. 2 in the South Region) and Ole Miss (No. 4 in the South Region).
Freshman Meri Rantanen paced the EKU women, finishing 10th out of 216 runners and covering the 6K course in 21:37.62. Fellow freshman Julia van Velthoven was right behind her in 11th place (21:40.68), while sophomore Ann Eason finished 16th (21:49.16), freshman Viivi Rantanen placed 17th (21:55.18) and junior Hannah Miller rounded out the top five in 58th place (22:54.15).
The EKU women return to action two weekends from now on Saturday, September 29 at the Greater Louisville Classic in Louisville.