Pioneers earn preseason rankings

The UW-Platteville men's and women's cross country teams both earned regional preseason rankings by the U.S. Track&Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Coach Tom Antczak's men are ranked third in the NCAA III Midwest Region. The Pioneers were ninth at the national championship in 2009, the best in school history and the highest of any Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team last year. In the preseason poll, the Pioneers trail just Wash. U., seventh in last year's nationals, and defending national champion North Central. The women's team is ranked ninth in the Midwest Region. UWP was fifth in the WIAC championships and ninth in the Midwest Regional finals.

The cross country teams are in action Sept. 18 for the first time, running at UW-Whitewater.