Oct. 17, 2017
USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll
THE FLATS — Georgia Tech women’s cross country received eight votes in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division I National Coaches’ Poll on Tuesday. Falling just outside the poll’s top 30, Tech ranks 35th overall in the country and is the third-highest-ranked ACC team.
It’s the first time since 2002 that the Yellow Jackets have received votes in the USTFCCCA’s national poll. That year, Tech ranked No. 24 in the preseason poll, before receiving votes through Week 2 of the season.
“It’s a great step for Georgia Tech cross country to receive votes in the women’s national poll,” head coach Alan Drosky said. “There are a lot of deserving teams, so it’s awesome to the see the women get this recognition and we’re really proud of them. They started taking ownership of this season last spring and they have some great momentum. Now, it’s still, `Chop wood, carry water, stay in the present and trust the process.’ The ACC Championships are up next and we’re excited about the opportunity in front of us.”
Regionally, Georgia Tech also jumped four spots to No. 4 in the USTFCCCA South poll, now behind only Georgia, Ole Miss and ACC-foe Florida State.
The ranking comes on the heels of an impressive victory as the Yellow Jackets took the Alabama Crimson Classic title on Oct. 13. En route to the first-place finish (74 points), Tech downed top-7 regional foes, Alabama, Auburn and Florida State, while also besting then-29th-ranked in the country, Mississippi State.
Amy Ruiz, Mary Prouty, Hailey Gollnick and Nicole Fegans all finished in the top 16 for the Jackets.
With the regular season now complete, Georgia Tech cross country will turn its training and preparation toward the ACC Championships in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 27.
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