The New York University women's cross country team has received a #33 national ranking to go with its #7 spot in the Atlantic Region in the Week 2 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III Poll.
The Violets, who were not ranked nationally in the Week 1 poll, have not competed since their season-opening meet at the Monmouth Cross Country Kickoff.
Running mainly against Division I foes on Sept. 5, head coach Nick McDonough's squad opened its 2009 campaign with a third-place finish (first among Division III teams) in the eight-team field. Joan Kanarkiewicz 's fourth-place finish was the best among the Violets, as three others finished within the top 20.
The team will returns to action this Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Williams College Purple Valley Classic in Williamstown, MA.
It will be quite a test for the nationally-ranked Violets, as five of the nation's top 27 teams, including #1 Middlebury College, will be competing. Also scheduled to race are #4 Johns Hopkins University, host Williams (#7), SUNY Plattsburgh (#23), and Oberlin College (#27).
In all, 13 teams are expected to compete.
"This will be our first real test of the season against top Division III teams," McDonough said. "After three weeks off, this will show us exactly where we are."