Cross-Country ranked seventh in the Atlantic Region

KUTZTOWN, PA. (October 6, 2009) – The Kutztown University men's cross-country team is ranked seventh according to the latest Atlantic Regional poll released Tuesday by the United States Track and Field Cross-Country Coaches Association.

The team had not yet been ranked in the Atlantic Region this season.

Last weekend, the Golden Bears finished 19th place at the Paul Short Invitational. Competing on the Brown Race, Kutztown was the first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) school to cross the finish line.

Five PSAC schools rank before Kutztown. Ranked No. 1 since the start of the season is Edinboro University. Shippensburg and Lock Haven switched No. 2 and No. 3 for the first time this season. East Stroudsburg is No. 4 and Slippery Rock is No. 5. Concord ranks No. 6. Ranked behind Kutztown is Seton Hill (No. 8), Wheeling Jesuit (No. 9) and Bloomsburg (No. 10).

Senior Ben Loht (Lewistown/Indian Valley) came in first for KU, crossing the finish line in 25:50 for 35^th place in the brown race. Loht broke the Kutztown school record on this course, setting the fastest time ever.

A total of 260 runners making up 38 teams competed in the men's brown race event. Finishing five seconds behind Loht, sophomore Ryan Reich (Oley/Oley Valley) grabbed 38^th place. Reich now holds the second fastest Kutztown time on the course.

The men opened their season on Sept 12 at the Maroon and Gold Invitational. The Golden Bears walked away with first place. Loht finished the race first overall. On Sept 19 the men traveled to Bronx, NY for the Iona Meet of Champions, placing 19th.

The Golden Bears have two more meets before the PSAC Champions on Oct. 31. They perform at Lafayette Leopard Invitational on Oct. 17 and compete at Nevins Invitational @ East Stroudsburg University on Oct. 24

The top eight spots in the weekly regional poll are held by Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) members.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is the non-profit professional organization that represents men's and women's cross country and track & field coaches in the United States. The organization represents over 8,000 coaching members, including 91% of NCAA coaches. USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track & field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as a lobbyist for coaches' interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field.

--KU--