Men's XC Final Naitonal Poll

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Tarleton men's cross country team had it's best season in shcool history and were awarded, finishing the 2009 season ranked No. 23 in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Poll that was released by the league office earlier this week.

It is the first time in school history that a cross country team finished the season ranked in the top-25 of the national poll.

The Texans finished fourth overall in the South Central Regional meet in Abilene last weekend, coming within 11 points of third-place and 16 points of second-place.  Jared McNeil and Westyn Rosilies each earned all-region honors, while McNeil earned a trip to the national meet after finishing in fifth-place overall.  

The fourth-place finish was the best in school history and two spots higher that last season's sixth-place finish in San Antonio.

A few weeks before the regional meet, the Texans came away with their second consecutive second-place finish at the Lone Star Conference Championships in Canyon.  Gerzain Valenzuela had his best meet of the season, finishing in fourth-place overall and earning all-conference accolades.  McNeil finished in ninth-place and earned his second straight all-conference honor as well.

The Texans won two of the four meets they competed in during the 2009 season, picking up victories at the North Texas Cross Country Invitational as well as the Abilene Christian Naimadu Classic.  McNeil won the men's overall title at UNT, coming in first overall at the 8,000-kilometer course.

McNeil will travel to Evansville, Ind. next week to participate in the 2009 NCAA Division II Nationals.  Keep up with McNeil's blogs about the national meet at www.tarletontalks.blogspot.com.