The Minnesota men’s cross country team, coming off their best NCAA Championships finish in 39 years last fall, enters the 2008 season ranked No. 9 in the first U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Men’s Division I Cross Country National Poll, released today. The Golden Gophers return All-Americans Chris Rombough and Hassan Mead from the 2007 squad that placed eighth in the nation a year ago.

“It’s exciting for our program to receive a top-10 ranking in the national poll to start the season,” said Minnesota head coach Steve Plasencia, in his 13th season with the Gophers. “We realize that the ranking is partly a reflection of our NCAA finish last year, but even more about the talent we have on this team right now. I’m looking forward to seeing how the season plays out.”

Defending national champion Oregon was tabbed as the top team in the poll, followed by Oklahoma State, Colorado, Iona and Alabama making up the top five. The Big Ten Conference placed three teams in the top 10 with Wisconsin at No. 6, Michigan at No. 8 and Minnesota at No. 9. Michigan State received votes in the poll.

Minnesota’s next competition is Saturday, Sept. 27, when the Golden Gophers play host to the Roy Griak Invitational, annually one of the largest cross country meets in the nation.

USTFCCCA Men’s Division I Cross Country National Poll:
(Sept. 16)

Ranking    Team (first place votes)    Region/Rank    Totals
1.    Oregon (12)    West-1    360
2.    Oklahoma State    Midwest-1    345
3.    Colorado     Mountain-1    306
4.    Iona College     Northeast-1    303
5.    Alabama     South-1    301
6.    Wisconsin     Great Lakes-2    291
7.    Portland     West-2    262
8.    Michigan     Great Lakes-1    260
9.    Minnesota     Midwest-2    257
10.    Georgetown     Mid-Atlantic-1    255
11.    Stanford    West-3    207
12.    UTEP    Mountain-4    196
13.    Virginia     Southeast-2    186
14.    Texas     South Central-1    175
15.    New Mexico     Mountain-2    170
16.    North Carolina State    Southeast-1    166
17.    Northern Arizona    Mountain-3    157
18.    Providence     Northeast-2    152
19.    California     West-4    150
20.    Notre Dame    Great Lakes-3    140
21.    Cal Poly    West-5    120
22.    Arkansas     South Central-3    106
23.    William & Mary    Southeast-3    97
24.    Florida State    South-3    88
25.    Auburn    South-2    85
26.    Texas A&M    South Central-2    82
26.    Villanova    Mid-Atlantic-2    82
28.    Syracuse     Northeast-3    50
29.    Iowa State    Midwest-3    42
30.    BYU    Mountain-5    35

Receiving Votes: Princeton 34, Louisville 24, Indiana 17, Arizona State 16, Tulsa 13, Michigan State 12, UCLA 8, Missouri 1.