UAA women's cross country fall to No. 5 in poll

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Despite winning its second back-to-back Great Northwest Athletic Conference title, the Alaska Anchorage women’s cross country team dropped one position to No. 5 in the latest U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association national poll released on Wednesday. The men’s team maintained its No. 8 ranking for the third straight week.

The No. 5 ranking is the lowest of the season for the UAA women, after starting the year at No. 3 for three weeks and sitting at No. 4 for five weeks. The Seawolves continue to lead the West Region over Chico State (No. 6) and GNAC member Western Washington (No. 7).
Grand Valley State tops the women’s field for the third time of the season, while Western State received its highest ranking at No. 2 – advancing four slots from last week. Adams State (No. 3) and Shippensburg (No. 4) sit ahead of UAA.

On the men’s side, the top nine of the poll remained unchanged from last week, with Adams State at No. 1, Western State at No. 2 and Colorado Mines rounding out the top three. The Seawolves currently lead the conference and are second in the West Region behind Chico State (No. 4).

UAA will train through the coming weekend and prepare for the 2010 NCAA Div. II West Regional Championships that will be contested on Nov. 20 in Bellingham, Wash.