XC Catapults to No. 5 National Ranking

Oct. 19, 2010

NORMAN, Okla. --The University of Oklahoma men's cross country team jumped to No. 5 in the nation in the latest rankings provided Tuesday by the U.S Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Previously ranked No. 16 in the nation, the Sooners won the White race at the Pre-Nationals meet this past weekend defeating nine ranked teams in the process. Oklahoma compiled 106 points in its route to victory with senior Rob Sorrell leading the Sooners with an 11th-place finish followed by junior Kevin Schwab who finished 15th.

Oklahoma finished ahead of three higher ranked teams in the White race, including conference opponent and then-No. 4 Colorado, also the sixth-place finisher from the 2009 NCAA Championships, then-No. 8 Portland and then-No. 13 North Carolina State. The Sooners also bested then-ranked No. 24 Alabama who placed third at the 2009 NCAA Championships. The title marked the first team win for the Sooners since the 2007 Golden Hurricane Invitational.

USTFCCCA Rankings Central

Oklahoma has only been ranked in the ranking five times before this year and this is the first ever appearance in the nation's top five.

Next up for the Sooners is the 2010 Big 12 Cross Country Championships on Oct. 30 in Stillwater, Okla.