Wednesday, September 2, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Much like their selection in the conference preseason coaches poll, the Alaska Anchorage men and the Simon Fraser women lead Great Northwest Athletic Conference teams represented in the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason Division II Coaches Polls, which were released today.

Alaska Anchorage opens the season ranked No. 7 in the men’s poll after winning the GNAC Championships last year and placing sixth at the NCAA Division II Championships. The Seawolves received 151 points in the poll. The day before, they picked up a No. 2 ranking in the USTFCCCA’s West Region Rankings. Chico State, the defending regional champion, leads the West Region rankings and opens the year ranked No. 4 in the national poll.

The Western Washington men open the season tied at No. 19 with Malone in the national poll and are the No. 5 ranked team in the region. The Vikings placed second at the GNAC Championships and fourth at the West Region Championships. Simon Fraser opens the year ranked No. 25 nationally and No. 6 in the region. The Clan finished third in the GNAC Championships and sixth at the West Region Championships.

Simon Fraser’s leads three GNAC women’s teams to appear on the opening poll. The Clan is ranked No. 8 with 142 points after winning both the GNAC and West Region championships before placing seventh at the NCAA Championships in 2014. They were picked to repeat as champion in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Simon Fraser is also ranked No. 2 in the region behind Chico State, who is ranked No. 7 nationally.

Alaska Anchorage opens the year ranked No. 10 nationally and No. 3 in the west region. The Seawolves came in second at the GNAC Championships in a closely run meet and went to place eighth at the NCAA Championships. Central Washington rounds out the GNAC three at No. 23 nationally and No. 5 regionally. The Wildcats placed fourth at last year’s GNAC Championships and fifth at the regional meet.

Western Washington was among nine teams receiving votes on the national poll, earning 12 points. The Vikings are ranked No. 7 on the regional poll and are picked third in the GNAC preseason poll. Seattle Pacific rounded out the initial regional poll at No. 9.

Two-time defending Division II men’s champion Adams State leads the preseason poll with 198 points, which include six of eight first place votes. Grand Valley State is picked second. Grand Valley State, the three-time defending team champion, leads the women’s poll with 200 points and all eight first place votes. Hillsdale enter the season at No. 2.

The next USTFCCCA national polls will be released on Wed., Sept. 16.