Stanford, Villanova Begin 2010 Cross Country Season as National Number Ones

NEW ORLEANS – The men of Stanford and women of Villanova will begin the 2010 cross country campaign as the nation’s No. 1 teams as assigned by the release of today’s U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Cross Country Coaches’ Poll.

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The Cardinal men received less number one votes (4) than No. 2 and defending national champions Oklahoma State (7) and are coming off a 2009 season that had them finish tenth at the NCAA Championships. No. 3 Northern Arizona grabbed the other first place vote and is in a tie with Oregon for the third-place spot on the poll.

Stanford returns now-junior Chris Derrick who placed third in last year’s national championships behind returning Samuel Chelanga of Liberty and David McNeill of Northern Arizona. Oklahoma State returns national top-10 finisher Colby Lowe for his junior season. Along with McNeill, Northern Arizona returns national top-five finisher Jordan Chipangama for his senior season. Oregon returns top-30 finishers from a year ago Luke Puskedra and Matthew Centrowitz.

Stanford will open the season this Friday at Nevada’s Jim Vanden Heuvel Twilight and will stay idle until hosting the Stanford Invitational on September 25. The Cowboys of Oklahoma State start the season on Saturday at the Tulsa Duels and will host the Cowboy Jamboree on September 25. Northern Arizona hosts the George Kyte Invitational in Flagstaff on Saturday and then will travel to San Diego State’s Aztec Invitational on September 18 before facing No. 1 Stanford at their invitational on September 25. Oregon opens the campaign on Friday at Oregon State’s John Frank Memorial Invitational. The Ducks will then sit on the pond until October 1 when they compete at the Notre Dame Invitational.

The Big 12 Conference leads the nation’s leagues with five teams in the national top 30, including No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 6 Colorado, No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 18 Iowa State, and No. 28 Texas. The Big East, Big Ten, and ACC fall next in line with four.

National defending women’s champions Villanova swept the board in the preseason poll, receiving all 12 first-place votes to open the season. No. 2 Florida State, No. 3 Washington, and No. 4 Texas Tech follow the Wildcats, matching their finishes from last fall’s NCAA Championships.

 The Wildcats are scheduled to return four that placed in the nation’s top 25 at last year’s championships, including Amanda Marino (sixth), Sheila Reid (13th), Bogdana Mimic (22nd), and Ali Smith (24th). Florida State graduated Susan Kuijken, but returns Pasca Cheruiyot who was 16th in last year’s national race and Amanda Winslow was in the nation’s top 40 as a freshman. Washington, national team champs in 2008, had then-sophomore Kendra Schaaf place second in last year’s national race and returners Marie Lawrence and Christine Babcock followed with national top 35 finishes. Schaaf transfered to North Carolina in the off-season.

Villanova opens the season on September 18 at the Delaware Invitational, followed by the Main Line Invitational at Haverford on Thursday, September 23. Florida State opens this weekend at Appalachian State’s Covered Bridge Open before taking place in the Across the State Relays charity event on September 11, benefiting the United Way. Washington will open with a dual versus Washington State this Friday in Husky coach Greg Metcalf’s hometown of Ephrata, Wash. The Huskies will continue the season on September 18 with the Sundodger Invitational in Seattle.

The Big Ten and Big East each have six of their members in the national top 30. The Pac-10 sits close behind with five representatives, followed by Conference USA, the ACC, and the Big 12 with three apiece.

The next national poll will be announced on September 13. The NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships will be held on Monday, November 22 in Terre Haute, Ind.