Oct. 16, 2001

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's cross country team is ranked eighth in the MONDO NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country Poll, released Tuesday, October 16. The Friars were picked fourth in the preseason poll, released on September 5. Most recently, the Friars earned a first-place finish in the New England Championships held in Boston, Massachusetts on Friday, October 12. A year ago, the Friars qualified for their sixth-consecutive NCAA Championship, where they finished third overall.

Providence received 282 points in the poll. Colorado tops the rankings with 14 first-place votes and 398 points overall. Stanford (378 points) and Arkansas (369 points) are ranked second and third, respectively, with Arkansas receiving two first-place votes. Wisconsin (341 points) holds fourth place, BIG EAST opponent, Notre Dame (331 points) ranks fifth, North Carolina State ranks sixth (328 points) and Portland (293 points) ranks seventh.

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        	  378
3       Arkansas (2)      	  369
4	Wisconsin	          341
5	Notre Dame	          331
6	North Carolina State	  328
7	Portland	          293
8	PROVIDENCE	          282
9-tie	Air Force	          251
9-tie	Northern Arizona	  251
11	UC-Santa Barbara	  221
12	Michigan	          214
13	Arizona	                  202
14	Villanova	          193
15	Eastern Michigan	  171
16	BYU	                  160
17	Duke	                  141
18	Michigan State	          122
19	Arizona State	          115
20	Oregon	                  114
21	Wake Forest	           89
22	Colorado State	           84
23	Indiana	                   39
24	Washington	           27
25	Utah State	           25

Also receiving votes:  Butler 14, Washington State 14, William & Mary 7,
Dartmouth 5, Alabama 4, Florida State 4, Georgetown 4, Nebraska 2, Penn State 2,
Weber State 2, Iona 1, Miami (Ohio) 1, Oklahoma State 1.