UT Women’s Cross Country to Open Season at No. 21
NEW ORLEANS - The University of Tampa women's cross country team is ranked in the preseason top-25 for the seventh consecutive season as the Spartans are listed at No. 21 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in its Preseason National Coaches Poll.
The six-time defending NCAA South Region champions are also No. 1 in the region, ahead of Nova Southeastern and Alabama-Huntsville. The top three teams in the region will earn an invitation to the 2014 NCAA Championships, as Saint Leo and West Florida occupy the fourth and fifth spots respectively.
On the men's side, Tampa is listed at No. 6 in the South Region. The Spartans trail Sunshine State Conference opponents Florida Southern (2) and Nova Southeastern (3) while Alabama-Huntsville (1), West Florida (4) and West Alabama (5) are also ahead of the Spartans.
NCAA South Region champion Kelly Hagan returns to lead the Spartan women as fellow returnees Courtney Ragan and Danielle Kissel also finished in the top-10 at the regional. Head coach Jarrett Slaven also welcomes nine newcomers, with several expected to compete for the UT lineup.
The men's team returns four letterwinners to go with a group of 11 newcomers in arguably the top recruiting class in program history. Senior Mike Zwijacz and junior Geremy DeWitt finished 37th and 34th respectively at the NCAA South Regional in 2012 and are expected to lead the Spartans.
Tampa opens its 2013 season on Sept. 6 at the USF Open. The Spartans host a pair of races, including the annual Early Bird Classic on Sept. 27, and the NCAA Division II South Regional on Nov. 9. Both races will be held at Dover Trails.