PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots men's cross country team jumped 22 spots in the most recent USTFCCCA National Poll to No.3 this morning, after their second place performance at the Nuttycombe Invitational this past weekend. The No.3 ranking marks the highest ever in program history, as the Pilots have only reached the previous program high ranking of No.4 three times; 1993, 2008, and 2009. Portland also currently ranks at No.1 in the West Region, and at No.3 in the FloTrack rankings.
 
"I challenged the team to think big this season," said head coach Rob Conner. "We have a deep, talented team and everyone is excited to keep working hard to see what we can achieve in the end."
 
Senior Jeff Thies also broke into the latest FloTrack Men's Individual rankings at No.20 this week. Thies led the Pilots to their second-place finish in Wisconsin with an eight-place finish. Junior Nick Hauger also had an impressive race finishing just behind Thies in ninth.
 
The Pilots will compete next at the WCC Championships on Oct.27 in Oakland, Calif. Conference opponents BYU and San Francisco also rank in the USTFCCCA Poll at No.2 and No.29, respectively.
 
USTFCCCA Men's Cross Country
1.Northern Arizona
2. BYU
3. Portland
4. Syracuse
5. Colorado
6. Stanford
7. Furman
8. Oregon
9. Colorado
10. Oklahoma State
11. Virginia Tech
12. Southern Utah
13. Michigan
14. UCLA
15. Michigan State
16. Ole Miss
17. Air Force
18. Minnesota
19. Utah State
20. Washington State
21. Washington
22. NC State
23. Iowa State
24. Texas
25. Iona
25. Middle Tennessee
27 Arkansas
28. Campbell
29. San Francisco
30. Penn State
 
Receiving Votes: Eastern Kentucky, Illinois, Georgetown, Boise State, Purdue, Penn, Indiana, Alabama, Eastern Michigan, Princeton
 
USTFCCCA Men's Regional Ranking
1.Portland
2. Stanford
3. Oregon
4. UCLA
5. Washington State
6. Washington
7. San Francisco
8. Boise State
9. California
10. Gonzaga
11. Cal Poly
12. Santa Clara
13. Loyola Marymount
14. Arizona
15. Cal State Fullerton
 
FloTrack National Team Rankings
1.Northern Arizona
2. BYU
3. Portland
4. Syracuse
5. Stanford
6. Colorado
7. Oregon
8. Furman
9. Colorado State
10. Southern Utah
11. Arkansas
12. Alabama
13. Virginia Tech
14. Oklahoma State
15. Michigan
16. UCLA
17. Michigan State
18. Mississippi
19. Air Force
20. Minnesota
21. Washington State
22. Washington
23. North Carolina State
24. Iowa State
25. Iona
 
FloTrack Men's Individual Rankings
1.Justyn Knight – Syracuse (1^st at Wisconsin)
2. Grant Fisher – Stanford (2^nd at Wisconsin)
3. Jacob Choge – Middle Tennessee (1^st at Crimson)
4. Vincent Kiprop – Alabama (2^nd at Crimson)
5. Andy Trouard – Northern Arizona (3^rd at Wisconsin)
6. Rory Linkletter – BYU (1^st at Pre-Nats)
7. Gilbert Kigen – Alabama (3^rd at Crimson)
8. Tyler Day – Northern Arizona (4^th at Wisconsin)
9. Matthew Baxter – Northern Arizona (5^th at Wisconsin)
10. Hassan Abdi – Oklahoma State (1^st at PSU Open)
11. Peter Seufer – Virginia Tech (2^nd at Pre-Nats)
12. Amon Kemboi – Campbell (3^rd at Pre-Nats)
13. Azaria Kirwa – Liberty (4^th at Pre-Nats)
14. Dillon Maggard – Utah State (5^th at Pre-Nats)
15. Alex George – Arkansas (16^th at Pre-Nats)
16. Jack Bruce – Arkansas (18^th at Pre-Nats)
17. Alfred Chelanga – Alabama (4^th at Crimson)
18. Jonathan Davis – Illinois (6^th at Wisconsin)
19. Robert Brandt – UCLA (7^th at Wisconsin)
20. Jeff Thies – Portland (8^th at Wisconsin)
21. Connor McMillan – BYU (6^th at Pre-Nats)
22. Casey Cliunger – BYU (7^th at Pre-Nats)
23. Matthew Maton – Oregon (IDLE)
24. Jonathan Green – Georgetown (8^th at Pre-Nats)
25. Joe Klecker – Colorado (9^th at Pre-Nats)