The Youngstown State men's cross country program was ranked ninth in the Great Lakes Region in the USTFCCCA Preseason Coaches' Poll, the USTFCCCA announced Monday.
The men's squad was ranked ahead of Toledo, Cincinnati, and Ohio State, which are 10th,11th, and 13th, respectively. Â Notre Dame is first in the Great Lakes Region, and reigning regional champion Butler is fourth.
YSU finished school-best ninth at last year's NCAA Great Lakes Regionals in Madison, Wis., as Hunter Christopher broke his own school record with a time of 30:23.9 to place 26th individually in the region. Ryan Meadows was the next Penguin to cross the finish line, placing 45th overall individually.
The Guins also return Blaze Fichter, Sage Vavro, Owen Brady, and Thomas Caputo, who all individually placed in the top 115 respectively at last year's Great Lakes meet.
The Penguins will open the season in Norton, Ohio, as they travel to the 55th Annual Tommy Evans Invitational on Friday, Aug. 30.
