Monday, September 20, 2010

NEW ORLEANS, La. – After another week of competition in the cross country season, the Atlantic Sun Conference saw severe changes in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional rankings as two more teams jumped into the polls and Jacksonville’s women’s squad propelled itself to sixth in the south region after finishing second at the UF Mountain Dew Invitational.

Led by sophomore Joan Pierre’s first-place finish at the UF meet, the Dolphins jumped three spots from ninth in the south region, while UNF stayed put in the eighth spot. The biggest jump in the south region poll came courtesy of Lipscomb, who catapulted from unranked to ninth after claiming second at the Vanderbilt Invitational.

On the men’s side, Kennesaw State remained as the top A-Sun representative despite falling from 10th to 11th, while Belmont also fell one position from 11th to 12th. After dropping out of the their preseason ranking of 15th, the Bisons reclaimed their spot by finishing fifth at the Vanderbilt Invitational.

Six teams are the most the A-Sun has seen in the three weeks the USTFCCCA poll has been conducted.