NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has announced their 2015 national and regional cross country preseason polls. The Iona College men’s and women’s cross country programs both rank in the top 25 nationally, and second in Northeast Region within their respective regional polls.
The USTFCCCA voted the Iona men’s cross country squad as the eighth ranked team in the nation. The Gaels are one of only two teams in the top ten to not be part of the ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, or PAC-12. Ahead of the Gaels are Colorado, Stanford, Syracuse, Wisconson, Oklahoma State, Oregon, and Villanova.
The lone team in front of the Iona in the Northeast regional poll are the Syracuse Orange.
On the women’s side, the Maroon and Gold find themselves ranked 13th in the preseason national poll, and second the Northeast Region, following only the Providence Friars.
At the conclusion of last year's 2014 season, both of Iona’s cross country programs finished atop the Northeast Region in their final regional polls, and each sat within the top ten of the final national poll; the men residing in eighth, the women finishing ninth.
Heading into the 2015 season, the Iona men’s program will be looking to capture their 25th straight MAAC Championship, and the women will be aiming for their 11th consecutive title. Each team was selected as unanimous favorites to win the MAAC Championship.
The Gaels open the 2015 campaign on Sep. 5 at the Marist Invitational at Vassar Farm in Poughkeepsie, NY. Iona’s first home meet will be the Br. Doyle Meet of Champions on Saturday, Sep. 19, at Van Cortlandt Park.
The 2015 MAAC Championship will be hosted by Rider at Rosedale Park in Pennington, NJ on Oct. 31.