WILLIAMSBURG, VA - The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its preseason cross country poll this afternoon, with the Tribe of William and Mary slotted in at No. 25. Defending NCAA champions Wisconsin garnered the top spot.

W&M won its eighth regional title last season behind a third-place effort from conference champion Ian Fitzgerald (Glenshaw, PA), and is the favorite to repeat this year. Aiming for its tenth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships, the College returns eight of the top ten runners from last year's team. The 2005 version finished a disappointing 22nd at the national meet, and this year's team is eager for another crack at earning the championship trophy.

W&M's next race will be this Saturday, September 16, at the James Madison Open in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

USTFCCCA Division I men's cross country poll
(Sept. 12, 2006)

1. Wisconsin
2. Arkansas
3. Colorado
4. Stanford
5. Texas
6. Iona
7. Portland
8. Arizona
9. Oklahoma State
10. Kansas
11. BYU
12. Notre Dame
13. UTEP
14. Georgetown
15. Oregon
16. Ohio State
17. Dartmouth
18. Michigan
19. Alabama
20. Arizona State
21. Florida State
22. Eastern Michigan
23. Minnesota
24. Florida
25. William & Mary
26. Virginia
27. Iowa
28. Michigan State
29. Butler
30. (tie) American, Providence

Also receiving votes: North Carolina State, Cal Poly, Princeton, Washington, Air Force, Tennessee, Weber State, Iowa State, Illinois, Liberty, Texas A&M.

Southeast Region Poll
1. William & Mary
2. Virginia
3. NC State
4. Duke
5. Liberty
6. Louisville
7. Norfolk State
8. Wake Forest
9. Eastern Kentucky
10. James Madison
11. Virginia Tech
12. Coastal Carolina
13. UNC Chapel Hill
14. Clemson
15. UNC Charlotte