NEW ORLEANS -- The Charleston Southern cross country team is ranked 12th in the NCAA Southeast Region preseason poll according to the preseason U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) rankings released on Tuesday.
"I think it's an affirmation for our team that their hard work has led to a level of consistency at the Regional level," said CSU Director of Track & Field and Cross Country
Jim Stintzi, the reigning Big South Conference Coach of the Year. "But, at the same time, it's a reminder that we have a lot of work ahead of us if we are to reach our goals."
Earlier this summer, the Buccaneer men were picked to win their 4th-straight Big South title this fall by the league's coaches.
The CSU men's team returns 15 total runners from last season including four that ran in the NCAA Southeast Regionals. Senior
Micah Gilpatric, who finished 29th at last year's NCAA Southeast Regional, was named the 2022 Big South Runner of the Year after winning the men's individual championship. The squad will also be welcoming back five runners who earned All-Conference Status at the championship meet including Gilpatric and last year's Big South Freshman of the Year in Zach Wedding.
This marks the fourth consecutive edition of the preseason ranking that the Buccaneers have been featured on the listing after never making their first appearance on it in 2019.
USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning team strength with current season results in determining predicted team finishes at the NCAA Regional Championships.
Charleston Southern opens the 2023 season on September 1 at the CSU Invitational on campus with the men's 6K to start at 9:00 a.m. and the women's 4K to follow at 9:45 a.m.
2023 Men's Southeast Preseason Rankings
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- NC State
- Eastern Kentucky
- Duke
- Wake Forest
- Furman
- Charlotte
- Liberty
- Kentucky
- Virginia Tech
- Charleston Southern
- Louisville
- Appalachian State
- High Point
