PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots men's and women's cross country teams were ranked No.22 and No.23 in the 2017 preseason FloTrack rankings, respectively.
"I am confident that we are better than No. 22 nationally," said men's head coach Rob Conner. "However, earning a ranking is always better than being given a ranking. The team had a great summer and should come out of the gates strong."
Senior Jeff Thies and junior Nick Hauger, who were two of Portland's top runners last fall, will return this season for the Pilots. Hauger and Thies both posted impressive times and performances at the West Regionals last fall with a sixth and fifteenth place finish to help the Pilots place second overall, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.