Trojan XC 22nd in NAIA Preseason Poll

08.28.2009

The Taylor University men's cross country season begins with high expectations as they were ranked 22^nd in the NAIA preseason rankings.

The Trojans return four of their top five and six of their top seven runners from last season including NAIA Nationals qualifiers Michael Pabody and Tom Robertson. This pair along with fellow senior Jeff Hubley hopes to lead the eight returning harriers and a solid class of four freshmen to the NAIA National Championship meet in Portland, Oregon this November.

TU will open their season on September 4 at the Purdue Meet of Legends.

Head coach Ted Bowers was pleased with the ranking, "It is a great place for us to start. During our first three meets we will face three teams that are ranked above us, so we will have plenty of opportunity to prove we belong in the ratings. The guys are really looking forward to the season and put in the work during the summer that we need to have a successful fall."

Two-time defending national champion Malone University (Ohio) was selected as the No. 1 team, Aquinas College (Mich.) is ranked second, followed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.), Simon Fraser University (B.C.) and Concordia University (Neb.) to round out the top five.