Sept. 27, 2006
METAIRIE, La. - The UCF men's cross country team opened the 2006 season at No. 11 in the NCAA Division I South Region poll released by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Tuesday. It was the highest regional ranking in program history.
The ranking stems from strong finishes in the team's two early races. In their season debut at the Mountain Dew Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., the Golden Knights finished second only to host Florida. They followed that with a fifth place showing at the Great American Cross Country Festival on Sept. 23.
"I am proud of the way the men have stepped up and given such strong efforts early in the season," said the Golden Knights' head coach Marcia Mansur-Wentworth. "They run hard during their workouts and that translates to race day."
Alabama topped the poll followed by in-state rivals Florida State and Florida, while Belmont and Tennessee rounded out the top five.
UCF's previous high showing of 12th was achieved on Sept. 20, 2005.
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