RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's cross country team has been ranked No. 11 in the Saucony Flo50,
a preseason national countdown presented by the website Flotrack.org.
It matches the highest national ranking in program history (the Colonels were also ranked No. 11 in the country in 2013).
EKU will be a deep and veteran team in 2016. The Colonels return their top seven runners from a squad that finished 17
th at last year's NCAA Championships, including senior All-American
Jaime Escriche, fellow seniors
Amos Kosgey,
Ambrose Maritim and
Luis Luna, juniors
Jamaine Coleman and
Sergio Mena and sophomore
Erick Rotich.
Junior
Jakob Abrahamsen, meanwhile, could prove to be Eastern's "secret weapon." Abrahamsen missed most of last cross country season with an injury, but emerged as a star during the track season, running an 8:34.0 steeplechase and finishing 11
th in that event at the NCAA Championships in Eugene.
Flotrack said of this year's team: "With the top four back from 2015, Escriche, Kosgey,
Erick Rotich and
Ambrose Maritim, and one of 2016's breakout stars on the track in Abrahamsen, this team has loads of potential. Their best team finish in program history came in 2013 when the squad was 15th. If the top five listed above have their best day, they should surpass that."
EKU is ranked ahead of some impressive company, including Virginia (No. 12), Ole Miss (No. 13), defending West Coast Conference champion BYU (No. 14), defending West Region champion Washington (No. 15), defending Big 12 champion Oklahoma State (No. 22), defending Big Ten champion Michigan (No. 23) and defending Southeast Region champion Louisville (No. 27).
EKU is one of only 10 programs nationally to qualify for the NCAA Championships each of the last five seasons, joining a prestigious group that includes BYU, Colorado, Iona, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Syracuse, Texas and Tulsa.
The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason regional and national rankings will be released later this month.
