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August 24, 2012

Vikings ranked 18th by USTFCCCA

Behind five top-seven returnees from a year ago, including senior Justin Smith, the Augustana men's cross country team has been ranked 18th in the nation in the USTFCCCA's preseason Division III poll.

NEW ORLEANS, La.-Returning five of its top seven runners from a year ago, coach Paul Olsen's Augustana men's cross country team has been ranked 18th in the nation in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's Division III pre-season poll. The Vikings are also ranked fifth in the always tough Midwest Region.

Olsen welcomes back seniors Brian Pollastrini (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.), Jonathan Smith (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.), Justin Smith (Fenton HS, Bensenville, Ill.) and Nathan Smith (Fenton HS, Bensenville, Ill.), as well as sophomore Nick Gornick (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) from last year's crew. Jonathan Smith took 10th place at the CCIW Championship last fall. Pollastrini was a second-place finisher at the Wartburg Invitational and Justin Smith was tops among this year's returnees with a 31st-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Midwest Regional.

Defending national champion North Central of the CCIW is a unanimous number one pick, both nationally and in the Midwest Region. Washington University is ranked second in the region and fourth in the nation, followed by another CCIW squad, Wheaton, which is third in the Midwest and fifth nationally. Wisconsin-LaCrosse tied for ninth in the national poll and ranks fourth in the Midwest.