NEW ORLEANS – A stellar weekend on the course for the Utah cross country team has it ranked No. 6 in the latest USTFCCCA National Coaches’ Poll – which ties the program record for its highest ranking ever.
Utah jumped eight spots in week #2 of the national poll – tying it with Penn State for the second-largest jump this week going from #14 to #6. Wisconsin, the host of the Nuttycombe Invitational, moved up nine spots for the largest jump this week (nine) to No. 10.
The last time Utah was ranked No. 6 in the country occurred in week #4 of the 2019 season after it won the Joe Piane Invitational. The Utes would finish that season No. 16 in the national polls, its third-highest ranking ever at season’s end. In total, this is the ninth time head coach Kyle Kepler‘s team has been ranked in the top-10. The last time the Utes were ranked inside the top-10 was in week #6 (No. 9) and week #7 (No. 7) during the 2022 season.
Redshirt sophomore Erin Vringer made a splash on the scene in her first race back after redshirting the 2023 cross country season to pace the Women of Utah, finishing sixth-overall with a 6k PR time of 20:14.2. The sixth-place finish and 20:14.2 time for Vringer is a much-improved mark from her freshman season at the 2022 Nuttycombe Invitational where she placed 171st with a time of 21:21.3. Meanwhile, Utah’s runner-up finish as a team was the best finish its ever had at the meet.
The Utes will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 11, when it competes at the Bill Dellinger Invitational at Pine Ridge Golf Course. Utah will also have a small contingent compete back in the Beehive State at the Steve T. Reeder Invitational on the same day up in Logan.
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com, on social media by following on Facebook, X and Instagram or stay connected with Utah360, the official mobile app of Utah Athletics through the App Store or Google Play.
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