NEW ORLEANS, La. --- The Tusculum University men's cross country team has entered the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association Division II Southeast Region rankings for the first time in program history.
The Pioneers were ranked fifth in this week's survey after opening the season with a victory in the Zaxby's Open on Sept. 7 and earning a second-place finish at the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational on Sept. 13.
Queens is the top-ranked team in the Southeast Region poll, and is one of four South Atlantic Conference teams in the survey. Mount Olive is second, followed by Augusta, Anderson and Tusculum in the top five. The rest of the top 10 consists of Flagler, Wingate, Columbus State, Georgia College and UNC Pembroke.
The USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning teams' strength with current season results in determining predicted team finishes at the NCAA Regional Championships.
Tusculum will be one of five regionally-ranked teams competing in the 11-team UNG Cross Country Invitational, which will be held Saturday morning at the University of North Georgia course in Oakwood, Georgia.