OFFICIAL USTFCCCA RELEASE: MEN | WOMEN
USTFCCCA RANKINGS: MEN | WOMEN
NEW ORLEANS – With the 2023 Cross Country season rapidly approaching both University of New Orleans Cross Country teams continue to receive regional recognition with a pair of No. 11 rankings in the South Central Region by the U.S Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Tuesday afternoon.
The Privateer women are coming off one of the best seasons in program history after winning the program's first Southland Conference Championship in dominate fashion and placing sixth in the South Central Regional last fall. They ended last season ranked No. 6 in the South Central Region – matching the highest final ranking in program history. Their 11
th place South Central Region ranking to start the 2023 season is the best among Southland schools.
Alexandra Weir,
Tshwanelo Maruping,
Rebecca DeKay,
Anna Martin,
Michelle Folk,
Oxana Bonjorn-Giros and
Holly Hedrick all return from last year's title winning squad. Weir earned USTFCCCA All-South Central Regional honors and All-Southland last season, while Maruping earned Southland Newcomer of the Year and All-Southland recognition a well.
Irene Bonanomi joins the cross country program after a season of Privateer Track and Field. Newcomers on the women's side include the reigning Gatorade Louisiana Runner of the Year
Emma Bourg out of Houma Christian high school, as well as German graduate student
Sophia Wolf and Austrian twin freshmen Agnes and
Ida Danner.
The Privateer men are also coming off a strong season with their highest ever placement (third) and lowest points total (81 points) at any conference championship in school history. UNO's men also ranked No. 6 in the final South Central Region poll of the season last year, after finishing in sixth-place at the South Central Regional – both high water marks in program history.
Cade Litolff,
Gary Sandrock,
Mason Appleton,
Alex Soileau and
Antonio Delgado all return from previous seasons.
Kelvin Chiku,
Matthew Hansen, and
Evan Pardo will join the cross country team after participating in Track and Field last year for New Orleans, while newcomers
Christian Francisco and former University of Louisiana standout
Baptiste Depril-Dupre round out this year's squad.
Both teams open the 2023 season this Friday just minutes from campus at Lake Oaks Park. The women will run a 4K starting around 6:10 p.m. with the men set to run a 5K around 6:45 p.m. In addition to both Privateer squads three other teams from this week's rankings will be in attendance: the No. 3 Tulane men, No. 4 LSU women and No. 7 Tulane women.
| USTFCCCA South Central Regional Rankings (Aug. 29) |
|
MEN |
WOMEN |
| 1 |
Texas |
Arkansas |
| 2 |
Arkansas |
SMU |
| 3 |
Tulane |
Texas |
| 4 |
Texas A&M |
LSU |
| 5 |
Arkansas State |
Texas A&M |
| 6 |
Rice |
Arkansas State |
| 7 |
Incarnate Word |
Tulane |
| 8 |
McNeese State |
TCU |
| 9 |
Baylor |
Rice |
| 10 |
Lamar |
Baylor |
| 11 |
New Orleans |
New Orleans |
| 12 |
SFA |
ACU |
| 13 |
UTSA |
Houston |
| 14 |
Abilene Christian |
Incarnate Word |
| 15 |
UT-Arlington |
UTSA |
SOCIAL MEDIA
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