POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 9, 2010) – The Vassar College men's and women's cross-country teams will enter this weekend's NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships with regional rankings in the Week 8 Coaches' Poll from the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following strong performances at the Liberty League Championships.

The men's tenth place ranking marks their first appearance of the 2010 season in the Atlantic Regional rankings. The women, too, are in the midst of a successful season. They are Week 8's sixth ranked team in the region, up from last week's seventh place.

“The men have been building momentum all season long,” said head coach James McCowan. At the Liberty League Championships, the men had an assertive victory over RPI to take second place in the league meet. “RPI had been consistently ranked at ninth or tenth, so beating them put the spotlight on our team,” said McCowan. “We've been moving up week after week, so this is a well-deserved ranking. The big thing for the team is to focus on what we've been doing the whole season, and to control what we can control.”

The new rank for the women's team is due to an impressive second place showing at Liberty League Championships as well. “The women broke up St. Lawrence, [the number one ranked team], very nicely,” said McCowan, “which brought them more recognition, both regionally and nationally. The women's team ran very well, but we have the potential to run better. Now we're looking to get out there for one of the top two spots in the region. The region has a lot of depth, so it will be a wide open race.”

Vassar will next compete November 13th at the NCAA Atlantic Regionals hosted by SUNY Oneonta. The meet will determine which teams will participate in the NCAA Division III National Championships.