August 26, 2008

LAURINBURG, N.C.—The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has released the 2008 Division II men’s cross country preseason regional rankings and the St. Andrews Presbyterian College men’s cross country team is ranked fifth in the Southeast Region to start the new season.

The Knights finished fourth in the region in 2007 but moved down a spot to fifth in the preseason regional rankings as the Southeast Region was re-aligned this summer after the NCAA introduced its new regionalization concept for Division II. SAPC will compete this year in the new Southeast Region that consists of all the schools in the Conference Carolinas, Peach Belt Conference, and South Atlantic Conference (SAC).

St. Andrews missed qualifying for the National Championship race for a third straight year in ‘07 but rising-senior Mitch Cooper (Virginia Beach, Va.) did qualify for the National Championship as an individual. SAPC will compete with a veteran team this season which includes 10 letter winners.

The Knights open the 2008 season at the Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC Wilmington on Friday, September 5. The men’s 5k race begins at 6:00 p.m. followed by the women’s 5k race at 6:30 p.m.

The next Southeast Regional Poll will be released on Tuesday, September 9th.

Southeast Region
Men ~ Preseason
1. Queens University of Charlotte
2. Columbus State
3. Clayton State
4. Mars Hill
5. St. Andrews
6. Lees-McRae
7. Anderson (SC)
8. Georgia College and State Univ.
9. Wingate
10. Lenoir-Rhyne