Iona Men's Cross Country Ranks Eighth in USTFCCCA Preseason Poll
USTFCCCA Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its annual NCCA Division I Cross Country Men’s National Coaches’ Preseason Poll. Iona College, the 31-time MAAC Men’s Cross Country Champions ranked eighth in the USTFCCCA Preseason Poll.
At the 2016 MAAC Cross Country Championships, the Gaels recorded their fourth-straight perfect score and Kieran Clements was the program’s 15
th straight individual champion. Iona went on to finish 10
th in the NCAA Cross Country Championships. The Gaels return 11 runners from a year ago as they look to defend their record 26-straight MAAC Championships.
The NCAA Cross Country Champion, Northern Arizona received seven first place votes to earn the top spot in the Preseason Poll, while Stanford placed second, receiving three first place votes. Placing third was Syracuse, followed by Arkansas, and Colorado in fourth and fifth respectively. In sixth is BYU, followed by Wisconsin in seventh. After Iona, placing ninth is Oregon and rounding out the top 10 is Oklahoma State.
Iona is set to participate in the Marist season opener on Saturday, September 2
nd in Poughkeepsie, NY.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 37th year of competition during the 2017-18 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena College.