MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee's men's cross country team is ranked 11th in the South Region in the first of weekly rankings released by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The Blue Raiders have posted three strong showings thus far this season heading into this weekend's meet action.
The men won the team title at the Agnes Scott Invitational on August 30, placed second at the Belmont Opener on September 5 and finished fourth last week at the Memphis Twilight Classic.
Junior William Songock has paced the five-member squad during the first three meets, finishing second twice and 10th this past weekend. Sophomore Festus Chemaoi was the medalist at the Agnes Scott Invitational, placed ninth at Belmont and was 25th at Memphis.
The other three runners - sophomores Isaac Biwott and David Emery and junior Julius Kirui - have all picked up the pace as well. Biwott has placed in the Top 30 in all three meets, Kirui in the Top 35 and Emery in the Top 40.
"Polls are nice and it's good recognition for the men, who have performed well to this point," head coach Dean Hayes said. "But we have to continue improving each week from 1-5 in the lineup if we want to win the Sun Belt, and that's always our top goal."
Both the Middle Tennessee men's and women's squads run Saturday at the WKU Old Timers Classic in Bowling Green, Ky. Full results may be found at wkusports.com.
USTFCCCA South Region Cross Country Rankings
September 15, 2008
1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. Florida State
4. Florida
5. Belmont
6. Tennessee
7. Mississippi State
8. Georgia
9. Georgia State
10. Georgia Tech
11. Middle Tennessee
12. Vanderbilt
13. East Tennessee
14. Chattanooga
15. Ole Miss