Madeline Click
The Ole Miss men’s and women’s cross country teams are off to a hot start with both Rebel squads ranked No. 14 in their respective USTFCCCA National Rankings, marking the 21st time in program history both teams have been nationally ranked simultaneously.
The women’s team has been ranked since week three of the 2018 season, appearing in nine consecutive polls — the second longest streak in the program’s history. The women were named in 12 consecutive polls during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
For the men’s team, this the 29th straight appearance in the national rankings. The men have been ranked in 35 of the last 40 polls dating back to 2014.
Both teams have placed in the top five in their first two races this season. The Rebel men andwomen placed second overall in their respective races at the Memphis Twilight on Aug. 31.
Ole Miss had four of its five women in the top five rankings. Courtney Hopkins was the top finisher for the Rebel women placing third overall. Hopkins, Emma McClellan, Morgan Claire Rose and Cate Tracht all set personal records in their 5K race. Robinson Snider was the top finisher for the Rebel men placing fifth overall and setting a personal record in the 4-mile race.
The Rebel women are coming off a first place victory at the Commodore Classic at Vanderbilt on Sept. 14. The Ole Miss women had a strong team win, earning them a noteworthy 76-92 win over No. 26 Ohio State. Ole Miss’ scoring spread was just 29.3 seconds, which was more than half a minute faster than Ohio State’s spread of 1:04.2.
Five Rebels finished within the top 25 and four within the top 16. Junior Maddie King lead the way in 10th place individually at 21:32.9. Courtney Hopkins was not far behind, placing 12th at 21:40.8.
The Ole Miss men placed fourth at the Commodore Classic led by Parker Scott placing 10th individually at 24:41.9.
Both teams are back in action at the Joe Piane Invitational hosted by Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana on Friday, Oct. 4.
