Gophers Open Season Ranked #27 and #30

The University of Minnesota cross country teams will open the 2011 season ranked in the top-30 of NCAA Division I. The Gopher men are ranked #27 in the recently released U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll; the Gopher women are ranked #30.

Both teams finished 27th at last year's NCAA Championships.

In the men's rankings, defending NCAA champion Oklahoma State leads the poll, followed by Stanford and Wisconsin. The Gopher men are ranked 4th among Big Ten teams, trailing the Badgers, #8 Indiana, and #25 Ohio State.

In women's rankings, Georgetown, 4th at NCAAs last year, tops the list, followed by New Mexico and Providence. The Gopher women are ranked 5th among Big Ten teams, trailing #13 Michigan, #18 Penn State, #28 Iowa, and #29 Michigan State.

In Midwest Region rankings, the Gopher men are ranked #3, behind Oklahoma State and last year's 5th-place NCAA team, Oklahoma.

The Gopher women are ranked #4 in the Midwest, trailing Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and Iowa, respectively.

Find complete D1 national rankings HERE. Find full regional rankings HERE.