DURHAM, N.C. – With the start of the 2013 cross country season just days away, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released the preseason national coaches poll Tuesday, Aug. 27. Duke’s men’s cross country team earned 41 votes and appeared 28th out of 30 teams in the preseason voting. The ACC led all conferences with six teams voted onto the coaches’ poll.

The ACC-heavy rankings included ninth-ranked Syracuse, No. 17 Virginia, No. 21 Florida State, No. 22 Notre Dame and No. 25 N.C. State.

The Great Lakes Region led the poll with five nominated teams, followed by the Mountain Region, Northeast Region, West Region and Duke’s Southeast Region, which each contributed four teams to the preseason rankings.

Duke returns five of their top seven runners from last year’s team that placed 30th at the NCAA National Championship meet.

Duke opens the 2013 campaign Saturday, Aug. 31 against N.C. Central, before traveling to Greenville, S.C. to compete in the Furman XC Classic Saturday, Sept. 14.

The USTFCCCA are scheduled to release the next coaches’ poll Tuesday, Sept. 17.

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