WEEK 9 NIRCA TEAM RANKINGS
November 6, 2008

In honor of Nationals, we've compiled the top 30 men's 8K times and top 30 women's 6K times of the season. The times are from very different courses - flat and fast, hilly and rough - but it's all fair game come this Saturday on the Penn State blue and white course!

View Top 30 Men
View Top 30 Women

WEEK 8 NIRCA TEAM RANKINGS
October 30, 2008

View Here

Women	Previous
1. Michigan	(1)
2. Oregon	(3)
3. Penn State	(2)
4. Wisconsin	(5)
5. Missouri	(NR)

Oregon moved up after its first full team showing at the Mike Hodges Invitational, as did Missouri and Wisconsin.

Men	Previous
1. Oregon	(1)
2. Wisconsin	(2)
3. North Carolina	(5)
4. Michigan	(4)
5. Illinois	(3)

North Carolina and Illinois swapped places as Oregon held onto the top spot.

Women	Previous
1. Michigan	(1)
2. Penn State	(2)
3. Oregon	(3)
4. North Carolina	(NR)
5. Wisconsin	(4)

North Carolina moved up to fourth after their impressive performance at their home meet, while other teams stayed steady.

Men	Previous
1. Oregon	(2)
2. Wisconsin	(1)
3. Illinois	(4)
4. Michigan	(3)
5. North Carolina	(NR)

North Carolina returned to the rankings after opening its season by winning the team title at their home course over Virginia. Oregon and Wisconsin swapped places to put Oregon back in first, as did Illinois and last year's runner-up Michigan.

Women	Previous
1. Michigan	(1)
2. Penn State	(2)
3. Oregon	(4)
4. Wisconsin	(3)
5. Connecticut	(NR)

Michigan held onto the top spot, while Oregon moved up to third after their performance in Salem. Connecticut made its first appearance in the rankings.

Men	Previous
1. Wisconsin	(2)
2. Oregon	(1)
3. Michigan	(4)
4. Illinois	(3)
5. Penn State	(NR)

After a week with Wisconsin competing in Chicago and Oregon competing in Salem, Wisconsin edged Oregon out of the top spot for the first time this season.

Women	Previous
1. Michigan	(1)
2. Penn State	(2)
3. Wisconsin	(NR)
4. Oregon	(4)
5. North Carolina	(3)

Wisconsin's women shot up in the rankings after their performance at the UW-Parkside Midwest Open. North Carolina, with no performances to date, fell to fifth.

Even after the week's action, the men's rankings remained unchanged.

Women	Previous
1. Michigan	(3)
2. Penn State	(1)
3. North Carolina	(2)
4. Oregon	(4)
5. Central Michigan	(NR)

Michigan moved up to the top spot in the women's rankings after beating Penn State at the Fall Classic. Also owing to the Classic, Central Michigan made its first appearance in the rankings.

Oregon retained its top spot after the West coast Preview. Even after a win at the Fall classic, Michigan fell back to the fourth spot, and Illinois proved its strength at the Illini Challenge. Wisconsin and North Carolina have yet to race this fall.

Women	2007 finish
1. Penn State	(2)
2. North Carolina	(3)
3. Michigan - Ann Arbor	(4)
4. Oregon	(1)
5. Indiana	(NR)

After finishing second at last year's championships, Penn State is in a good position to take its second title on their home course. Although they lost their top competitor, 2007 runner-up Ruth Mick, the team returns the bulk of its team and has the depth to be a legitimate title contender. North Carolina, which just missed second place in 2007, will return with all of their top five intact, including who were freshmen last year. Michigan returns most its perennially strong team. Last year's champion, Oregon will rely largely on newcomers after losing several runners to graduation. Although Indiana did not field a complete team last year, they could be a factor this year if they find more strong runners. In last year's championsihp, their runners took the first and third spots.

Oregon looks to repeat their title, returning all five for their top runners. Several teams will be in the hunt to dethrone the team though. Newcomer Wisconsin boasts a strong middle distance crew, and Michigan will be looking for the title after barely missing the win in 2007. Illinois and North Carolina will also return with strong groups, losing few to graduation.