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NEW ORLEANS – The Eastern Kentucky University men's cross country team is ranked No. 12 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason National Poll.
The Colonels are ranked ahead of the likes of No. 13 Syracuse, No. 14 Notre Dame, No. 15 Arkansas, No. 17 Michigan State, No. 20 Georgia, and No. 21 Florida.
Defending national champion Oklahoma State (No. 1), New Mexico (No. 2), Iowa State (No. 3), Alabama (No. 4), Oregon (No. 5), Colorado (No. 6), Northern Arizona (No. 7), Wake Forest (No. 8), BYU (No. 9), Wisconsin (No. 10), and Washington State (No. 11) are the only teams positioned ahead of EKU in the preseason rankings.
EKU finished ninth at last year's NCAA Cross Country Championships, the best finish in program history.
All-Americans
Brian Kimutai and
Taha Er Raouy return to lead this year's Colonel squad. Kimutai finished 21
st at last year's NCAA Championships, while Er Raouy took 30
th. Er Raouy also qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 3,000 meters and the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 5,000 meters.
The EKU men have qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships nine of the last 15 years.
The Colonels will face their first real test of the 2026 season when they compete at the John McNichols Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19 in Terre Haute, Indiana, the site of this year's NCAA Cross Country Championships.
