Sept. 25, 2001

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's cross country team is ranked fifth in the MONDO NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country Poll, released Tuesday, September 25. The Friars were picked fourth in the preseason poll, released on September 5, and have earned first-place team finishes in the New Hampshire Invitational and the Boston College Invitational. A year ago, the Friars qualified for their sixth-consecutive NCAA Championship, where they finished third overall.

Providence received 327 points in the poll. Colorado tops the rankings with 14 first-place votes and 398 points overall. Stanford (377 points) and Arkansas (362) are ranked second and third respectively, and have one first-place vote each. BIG EAST opponent, Notre Dame (343 points) ranks fourth.

The Friars will compete in the Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday, September 29 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The meet is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m.

THE MONDO NCAA-I MEN'S PRESEASON CROSS COUNTRY POLL Conducted by the UNITED STATES CROSS COUNTRY COACHES ASSOCIATION

Rank 	Team (first place votes)    Points
1	Colorado (14) 	            398
2       Stanford (1)       	    377
3       Arkansas (1)      	    362
4       Notre Dame	            343
5       PROVIDENCE	            327
6       Wisconsin             	    318
7       Villanova            	    310
8       North Carolina State	    299
9       Northern Arizona            264
10      Georgetown            	    222
11      William & Mary	            216
12      Arizona	                    215
13      Portland	            185
14	Michigan	            173
15	BYU	                    170
16	Oregon	                    160
17	Iona College	            148
18	Weber State	            125
19	Indiana	                    120
20	Minnesota	             80
21	Alabama	                     78
22	Arizona State	             66
23	Wake Forest	             63
24	Eastern Michigan	     41
25	Air Force	             39

Also receiving votes:  Michigan State 24, Dartmouth 20, Texas 15, Duke 8,
Penn State 7, Princeton 7, Oklahoma State 6, Navy 4, Virginia 4, Colorado State 3,
Iowa 3, MIami (Ohio) 3, Ohio State 3, Washington State 3.