NEW ORLEANS, LA – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has announced the 2019 Division I Cross Country Preseason National Rankings. The Iona College men's cross country team is ranked 19
th with 107 votes.
Director
Joe Pienta led the Maroon & Gold to a 28
th place finish at the 2018 D1 NCAA Cross Country Championship after a second place finish at the Northeast Regional race. The Gaels have competed at the NCAA Championship since 2002, and all but one time since 1997.
Iona has five top-five finishes at the NCAA Championships, with the latest being a fifth place finish in 2015. The program's best finish was second in 2008 and 2007.
On Tuesday, the Gaels were voted the unanimous preseason favorite to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for the 29
th straight season. The Maroon & Gold currently hold the longest streak in NCAA D1 with 28 straight league titles. Iona was also voted second in the Northeast Region Preseason Poll. The lone team to top the Gaels in the Northeast Region is Syracuse, who are 12
th in the national preseason poll. The Maroon & Gold and Orange are the only two Northeast Region programs inside the top-30.
The top top teams in the USTFCCCA Preseason Poll are defending team champion Northern Arizona and runner-up BYU.
Iona begins its season on Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Marist Season Opener held at Vassar College.
Be sure to follow Iona College athletics on all social media platforms:
ICGaels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Cross Country and Track & Field: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
