California Women's Cross Country Ranked 10th

Strong Showing at Roy Griak Invitational Shoots Bears Up in the Poll


Heather Cerney and the Bears are ranked 10th nationally.

Sept. 27, 2011


BERKELEY - After securing a tie for first place at the Roy Griak Invitational last Saturday, the Cal women's cross country team moved from receiving votes to 10th in the country in the latest national poll released Tuesday.

The Bears, who matched No. 8 Iowa State top the victory platform, defeated seven ranked teams during the race held in Minneapolis, Minn., including then-No. 10 Arizona and then-No. 11 Washington. According to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, Cal's rating is the team's highest ever (since 1995), topping its previous best of No. 22 last year.

The Bears are aiming for their first NCAA Championships berth since 1988 when they placed ninth. Cal's only other trip to nationals came in 1984 with a 15th-place showing.

With six teams among the top 30, the Pac-12 had more ranked schools than any other conference. In addition to No. 10 Cal, others in the poll are: No. 4 Colorado, No. 6 Stanford, No. 11 Arizona, No. 17 Oregon and No. 20 Washington.

The Bears are off from competition until Oct. 14 when they travel to Madison, Wis., for the Badger Invitational.

USTFCCCA
Women's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll
2011 Week #3 -- September 27


Rank Institution Points Region Conference Last Week
1 Georgetown (10) 358 Mid-Atlantic Big East 1
2 New Mexico 343 Mountain Mountain West 2
3 Providence (1) 328 Northeast Big East 3
4 Colorado (1) 324 Mountain Pac-12 4
5 Villanova 313 Mid-Atlantic Big East 5
6 Stanford 302 West Pac-12 6
7 Florida State 269 South ACC 7
8 Iowa State 267 Midwest Big 12 8
9 Duke 258 Southeast ACC 9
10 California 254 West Pac-12 RV
11 Arizona 230 West Pac-12 10
12 Syracuse 215 Northeast Big East 13
13 Michigan 204 Great Lakes Big Ten 12
14 Texas 194 South Central Big 12 14
15 North Carolina 183 Southeast ACC 15
16 Virginia 151 Southeast ACC 16
17 Oregon 145 West Pac-12 17
18 Arkansas 137 South Central SEC RV
19 Michigan State 131 Great Lakes Big Ten 26
20 Washington 129 West Pac-12 11
21 Minnesota 115 Midwest Big Ten 30
22 Princeton 110 Mid-Atlantic Ivy 20
23 Oklahoma State 89 Midwest Big 12 22
24 West Virginia 87 Mid-Atlantic Big East 19
25 Texas Tech 72 Mountain Big 12 24
26 Florida 68 South SEC 25
27 Iowa 56 Midwest Big Ten 28
28 Penn State 51 Mid-Atlantic Big Ten 18
29 BYU 50 Mountain West Coast 23
30 Vanderbilt 38 South SEC RV
Others Receiving Votes: Boston College 30, Toledo 21, Dartmouth 17, Kansas State 9,
NC State 9, Tulsa 7, San Francisco 6, Clemson 5, Connecticut 5, La Salle 1.