Both Husky squads ranked number 3 in USTFCCCA pre-season national coaches' poll...

NEW ORLEANS—The Washington cross country teams report to start formal practices this week in preparation for Friday’s meet against Seattle University at Magnuson Park on Friday, but both squads have received recognition from the USTFCCCA in its preseason coaches’ poll that released Tuesday.

Both Husky squads are ranked third in the country in a poll of Division I coaches.

On the men’s side, the nation’s top team as voted by the coaches is defending national champion Northern Arizona.

Following NAU is Brigham Young, followed by the Huskies, then Colorado, and Iowa State.

This is the best ranking that the Dawgs have received since the USTFCCCA started the polls in 1995.

The Husky men will be led by 2018 All-American Tibebu Proctor (left/photo by Paul Merca), while Pac-12 runner-up Talon Hull, and a whole slew of talent.

Other Pac-12 men’s teams ranked in the national top 30 include number 10 Stanford, who will have a new coach in former Connecticut coach JJ Clark; number 11 Oregon, and number 22 UCLA.

Men's head coach Andy Powell said, "Rankings won't get you to the national meet, it won't get you a trophy; it's what you do between now and the Regional meet and the third week in November that matters. Our team has a long way to go until the end of the season. We're just reporting this week and this is when the team really needs to buckle down and start working."

On the women’s side, three teams from the Pac-12 are in the national top 5, led by defending national champion Colorado.

Following the Buffaloes are former champ New Mexico, then the Huskies. Rounding out the top five are number 4 Michigan, and number 5 Stanford.

The Oregon Ducks are ranked number 9, while UCLA is ranked number 21, and Utah is ranked number 22.

The USTFCCCA release is available here.

PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS MOVED TO MONMOUTH…

The Pac-12 Conference announced that its cross country championship race will be moved from the Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis to nearby Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth, on the campus of Western Oregon University. Oregon State University remains the host school for the Pac-12s.

Ash Creek Preserve is one of the state’s most well known courses, as it’s played host to both the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the NCAA Division II West Regional championship meet.

Extensive flooding of the Willamette River and Trysting Tree this spring prompted the shift. The Championships will be televised live on Pac-12 Network for the third consecutive year with racing starting at 11 a.m. PT.

The Pac-12 release is available here.

NOTE:  The USTFCCCA and the Pac-12 Conference contributed to this report.