Aug. 29, 2016
The Vanderbilt women’s cross country team has high expectations for this season — and apparently, so do many observers outside the program.
The Commodores, who have captured back-to-back NCAA South Region titles, are ranked No. 2 in the region on the USTFCCCA’s preseason poll that was released on Monday. (Complete region rankings HERE). The national poll is schedule to be released on Tuesday.
In the annual SEC coaches’ poll, also released on Monday, the Commodores were picked to finish second, behind only perennial power Arkansas. Vanderbilt received one first-place vote. (Full SEC preseason poll below).
Vanderbilt head coach Steve Keith, who has guided the Commodores to five straight appearances in the NCAA Championships, was appreciative of the attention his team is receiving, but he downplayed the preseason predictions.
“It’s nice to get this recognition,” said Keith, “but the real work is ahead of us. We’ve still got to go out and perform.”
The Vanderbilt women open the season this weekend, competing in the Belmont Opener at Percy Warner Park. The Commodore men — who were picked 13th in the SEC poll — will also be in action at the Belmont Opener.
The Vanderbilt teams then host the Commodore Classic on Sept. 17 at Percy Warner.
ARKANSAS PICKED TO SWEEP SEC TITLES
From the SEC office
The Arkansas men and the Arkansas women have been predicted to claim the 2016 Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships, as decided by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
The Arkansas men claimed the SEC Championship last season, their sixth consecutive SEC title and 23rd in the last 25 years. The No. 8 Razorbacks garnered 10 first place votes in the SEC poll, while Ole Miss earned three first place votes.
The Arkansas women, who have won three consecutive SEC Cross Country Championships, were selected to win the 2016 SEC Cross Country Championship. The Razorbacks received 13 first place votes, and Vanderbilt earned one first place vote.
The 2016 SEC Cross Country Championships will take place Friday, Oct. 28 in Fayetteville, Ark.
USTFCCA WOMEN’S SOUTH REGION RANKINGS
1. Mississippi State
2. Vanderbilt
3. Ole Miss
4. Auburn
5. Ole Miss
6. Florida State
7. Lipscomb
8. Florida
9. MTSU
10. Georgia
11. South Alabama
12. Georgia Tech
13. North Florida
14. Jacksonville
15. Florida Gulf Coast
SEC Coaches’ Poll: WOMEN
Rank Team Points
1 – Arkansas (13) 13
2 – Vanderbilt (1) 35
3 – Miss. St. 46
4 – Florida 51
5 – Ole Miss 135
6 – Missouri 66
7 – Alabama 89
8 – Texas A&M 100
9 – Auburn 101
10 – Kentucky 112
11 – Georgia 134
12 – Tennessee 143
13 – South Carolina 151
14 – LSU 169
SEC Coaches’ Poll: MEN
Rank Team Points
1 – Arkansas (10) 14
2 – Ole Miss (3) 21
3 – Texas A&M 36
4 – Kentucky 49
T-5 – Florida 67
T-5 – Missouri 67
7 – Alabama 79
T-8 – Auburn 86
T-8 – Georgia 86
10 – Miss. St. 115
11 – Tennessee 118
12 – LSU 134
13 – Vanderbilt 142
NOTE: Points for the men’s poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 basis, while the women’s poll was awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13 basis. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
