NEW ORLEANS, LA – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association announced its first national coaches' poll on Tuesday afternoon. The Iona College men's cross country is ranked number 11 in the first poll of the season.
After finishing in 12th place at the 2019 NCAA D1 Cross Country Championships, the Maroon & Gold are again expected to be on the national stage. The Gaels are the top-ranked Northeast Team in the national poll, garnering 216 votes. The nearest Northeast Region school in the rankings is Syracuse at number 17.
Iona returns a stacked roster that features all seven runners from the 2019 championship race in Terre Haute, IN. John Millar was an USTFCCCA All-American with a 26th place finish. He was the first Iona All-American since Gilbert Kirui in 2015. Ehab El-Sandali was four tenths of a second shy of All-American honors in 41st.
The Maroon & Gold were the top finishing team from the Northeast last year. Its 12th place finish was three spots better than their ranking heading into the culminating race. The Maroon & Gold have finished top-12 in six of the last seven seasons and nine of the past 11. The Gaels have competed in 18 straight NCAA Championship races.
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