NC State Women’s Cross Country #6 in Preseason Poll, Men’s #21

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Both NC State cross country squads will begin the 2018 season ranked in the national top 25, as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its preseason national coaches’ poll Tuesday afternoon.

The Wolfpack women totaled 284 points to land at sixth in the national poll, and the NC State men were ranked 21st overall with 94 points.

NC State’s women enter 2018 having won back-to-back ACC titles and Southeast Region crowns. In 2017, the Wolfpack advanced to the NCAA Championships for the 31st time, the most in NCAA history, and went on to place eighth for the program’s third-straight top-10 finish. Elly Henes led the way for the Pack, finishing 32nd to earn recognition as an All-American. Henes returns to the squad in 2018 and will be joined by three other returning Wolfpack scorers from the national meet – Dominique Clairmonte, Beth Taye and Ryen Frazier.

The Wolfpack men finished 17th in 2017, earning the program’s highest national finish since 2011. The men’s team also returns four scorers from the 2017 NCAA Championships in Ian Shanklin, Elijah Moskowitz, Joe Bistritz and Patrick Sheehan.

The Wolfpack is scheduled to open 2018 competition at home as it hosts the adidas XC Challenge, which is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 14 at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.