NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has released its Division III preseason cross country coaches polls and both of Haverford College's squads earned high marks with the men slotting into the No. 2 spot and the women rating 12th.
The Fords men earned 269 points and one first-place vote to tuck in behind national leader and returning champions North Central (Ill.) College which garnered 278 points and six first-place markers. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is third with 260 points followed by fourth-place Washington (Mo.) University (255 pts.) which picked up the remaining first-place vote from the coaches.
Among other Centennial Conference institutions, Dickinson College is 12th (181 pts.) and Johns Hopkins University is 18th with 136 points.
In the women's rankings, Haverford begins the season ranked 12th with 191 points. Returning national champion Johns Hopkins earned the top spot with eight first-place votes and 280 points. Dickinson, 22nd, is the only other Centennial institution within the ranking's top-35 schools.
The 2013 season gets underway Friday, August 30 for the Fords women with the Haverford Opener. The men kick off their season with the Alumni Race on September 7.