Texas women’s cross country races into national rankings

By Steve Lansdale

AUSTIN, Texas — When it heads to College Station, Texas, next week to compete in the Texas A&M Invitational, the University of Texas women’s cross country team will do so as a nationally ranked program.

After starting the season as one of the team’s receiving votes, the Longhorns cracked the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) rankings at No. 21.

The poll ranks the nation’s top 30 programs; 31 are invited to the NCAA Championship at the end of the season.

The Longhorns’ appearance in the national rankings comes after a hiatus of nearly two years. UT’s last appearance in the national rankings was in the fourth week of the 2013 season.

The honor bodes well for the Longhorns when it comes time to compete against other teams within the Big 12, as four schools from the conference are nationally ranked, and another is just outside the top 30. Iowa State, which started the season as the nation’s top-ranked team, fell to No. 2 in the poll, West Virginia is ranked No. 11 and Oklahoma State is one spot behind the Longhorns, at No. 28. Baylor was in the poll last week and still is receiving votes after dropping out of the national rankings.

The Texas men’s team is close to joining the UT women among the nation’s elite, falling five spots shy of cracking the top 30.