UNCG continues to move up in USTFCCCA rankings
NEW ORLEANS, La. – After winning both team titles this past weekend at the Southern Conference Championships, both the UNCG men's and women's programs moved up in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Associations (USTFCCCA) rankings this week.
The Spartan men moved up one spot in the Southeast Region to No. 10, while the women's team continued its rise and jumped three spots to No. 5 in the region. Both rankings are the best in school history for both programs.
This past weekend, the women's team claimed top honors as a team and Ashley Schnell won the individual title, as well. It was the second-straight season in which Schnell has claimed top individual honors and was named SoCon Runner of the Year for the second time too. In all, the top four runners on the women's side came away with first-team All-SoCon honors.
"Being ranked fifth in the region is quite a complement to our women's team," said coach Linh Nguyen. "Obviously, we had a very strong showing at the SoCon Championships and that bolstered our ranking. It's a real testament to the hard work that the women have put in and recognition of how impressive they were on Saturday. All season we have believed that we're a strong team and we look forward to the chance to prove that in Louisville."
Like the women, the men's team also won the team and individual titles this past Saturday. Paul Chelimo won the individual title and was named SoCon Runner of the Year. Chelimo has now won the individual title in all four races he has competed in this season.
In addition to Chelimo, Joey Thompson, Paul Katam and Abraham Kemboi were all named first-team All-SoCon, while Mike Koech earned second-team accolades.
"I'm a bit surprised that the men moved up only one spot in the rankings to 10th after the dominating win on Saturday," said Nguyen. "However, I understand that everything must be earned and so I think this will help to motivate the guys as they train for the regional championships. We believe in ourselves and what we're doing, now we just have to go out and prove ourselves to everybody else. Louisville on the 12th will be that opportunity and I hope the men on this team take advantage of it."
The Spartans will compete at the NCAA Southeast Regionals on Nov. 12 in Louisville, Ky.
AGATE
USTFCCCA Men's Division I Southeast Region rankings:
Rank School Location Conference Last Week
1 NC State Raleigh, N.C. ACC 1
2 North Carolina Chapel Hill, N.C. ACC 3
3 Eastern Kentucky Richmond, Ky. Ohio Valley 2
4 Louisville Louisville, Ky. Big East 4
5 Duke Durham, N.C. ACC 8
5 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va. ACC 6
7 William and Mary Williamsburg, Va. Colonial 5
8 Virginia Charlottesville, Va. ACC 7
9 Western Kentucky Bowling Green, Ky. Sun Belt 9
10 UNCG Greensboro, N.C. Southern 11
11 Davidson Davidson, N.C. Southern 10
12 Kentucky Lexington, Ky. SEC 14
13 Liberty Lynchburg, Va. Big South 15
14 High Point High Point, N.C. Big South NR
15 Furman Greenville, S.C. Southern NR
USTFCCCA Women's Division I Southeast Region rankings:
Rank School Location Conference Last Week
1 NC State Raleigh, N.C. ACC 2
2 Virginia Charlottesville, Va. ACC 1
3 North Carolina Chapel Hill, N.C. ACC 3
4 Clemson Clemson, S.C. ACC 5
5 UNCG Greensboro, N.C. Southern 8
6 Duke Durham, N.C. ACC 4
7 James Madison Harrisonburg, Va. Colonial 10
8 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va. ACC 6
9 Charlotte Charlotte, N.C. Atlantic 10 13
10 Wake Forest Winston-Salem, N.C. ACC 9
11 Western Kentucky Bowling Green, Ky. Sun Belt 11
12 Eastern Kentucky Richmond, Ky. Ohio Valley NR
13 Furman Greenville, S.C. Southern 7
14 High Point High Point, N.C. Big South 14
15 William and Mary Williamsburg, Va. Colonial NR
- UNCG -