The University of Missouri-Rolla cross country team has started the season well and was rewarded today with a spot in the Top 25 for NCAA Division II in the poll released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The Miners, fresh off a third place finish out of 36 teams at the Southern Stampede over the weekend at Missouri Southern, are ranked 20th this week. UMR has finished third or higher in each of its meets this season, taking third at Kansas and second in its home meet as well to open the 2007 campaign.

UMR is the second-highest ranked team from the Great Lakes Valley Conference behind No. 10 Southern Indiana.

Defending national champion Abilene Christian heads the rankings this week, followed by Adams State and Western State. Grand Valley State, the top-ranked team in the most recent Great Lakes regional rankings, is fourth on the national list this week.

UMR is idle from competition this week and will return to the course Sept. 29 at the Greater Louisville Classic.

USTFCCCA Division II Men's Cross Country Rankings (Sept. 19, 2007)
1. Abilene Chrisitan
2. Adams State
3. Western State
4. Grand Valley State
5. Chico State
6. Stonehill
7. Colorado School of Mines
8. Slippery Rock
9. Minnesota State
10. Southern Indiana
11. Edinboro
12. Massachusetts-Lowell
13. Western Washington
14. Missouri Southern
15. Saginaw Valley State
16. Lock Haven
17. New Mexico Highlands
18. Augustana
19. Alaska-Anchorage
20. Missouri-Rolla
21. Metropolitan State
22. Ashland
23. Southern Connecticut State
24. Wayne State (Mich.)
25. Hillsdale