Oct. 11, 2007

NEW ORLEANS - The George Mason men's cross country team achieved its highest ranking of the 2007 season in the latest United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Southeast Region Poll. The Patriots moved up a spot and are currently ranked No. 13 in the poll, which ranks the top-15 schools in each of the nine regions in NCAA Division I men's cross country.

Mason has steadily moved up in the regional poll since the team was ranked No. 15 to start off the season in the preseason poll that was released on Sept. 10. The Patriots moved up to No. 14 in the poll that was released on Oct. 1 and moved up another spot in the latest poll.

The team will be competing this weekend for the first time since Saturday, Sept. 29 when they hosted the Mason Invitational at Bull Run Regional Park in Manassas, Va. At that meet, the Patriots placed second as a team with 60 points. Sophomore Robert Krause led the way for Mason with a third-place finish.

Mason will attempt to follow up its second-place finish at the Mason Invitational with a strong showing at the Penn State National Invite, with the men's race slated for 11 a.m. at the Penn State Blue and White Golf Course in University Park, Pa. The meet will be the Patriots' toughest test of the season to this point, featuring a total of 12 Division I teams that are regionally ranked by the USTFCCCA.

USTFCCCA Southeast Region Top-15 Poll
1. William and Mary
2. Louisville
3. North Carolina St.
4. Virginia
5. Virginia Tech
6. Eastern Kentucky
7. Duke
8. Liberty
9. Kentucky
10. Wake Forest
11. Appalachian State
12. Clemson
13. George Mason
14. Richmond
15. Charlotte