JOLIET, Ill. -- Returning five of its top seven runners from last year's national championship squad, University of St. Francis has been ranked No. 1 in the 2013 NAIA Men's Cross Country Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll. | Poll
USF garnered 19 of 20 first-place votes and collected 560 points in the preseason ranking. Southern Oregon University totaled 542 points to claim the No. 2 spot, while Aquinas College received the remaining first place vote and netted 505 points en route to the No. 3 position.
Under first-year head coach Jeff Barker, the 2012 Saints featured three All-Americans as they captured the program's first national crown. Two members of that All-America trio return this fall in senior Mike Blaszczyk (Novi, Mich./ Novi) and sophomore Brandon Carson (Waterford, Mich./ Mott). Blaszczyk crossed the line in 23rd place at last year's national championship meet, while Carson checked in one spot behind him to lead the nation's freshmen.
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An indoor and outdoor track All-American, senior Dylan Reyes (Sterling, Ill./ Newman Central Catholic) was the Saints' No. 4 runner at nationals last season despite being hampered by injuries throughout the fall. Barker believes that if Blaszczyk, Carson and Reyes remain healthy, all three should contend for All-America status in November.
Senior Jake Ferris (Joliet, Ill./ Plainfield South) and junior Matt Peacock (Hesperia, Mich./ Hesperia) were USF's No. 5 and No. 7 runners at last year's national event, respectively, and both look to be in the mix in 2013, along with senior John Niendorf (Frankfort, Ill./ Lincoln-Way North) and sophomore Danny Bahret (Channahon, Ill./ Minooka).
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Barker's team features a dozen incoming freshmen, among them Joey Santillo (Minooka, Ill./ Minooka) and Omero Montalvo (Berwyn, Ill./ Morton), who Barker projects as possible top-seven performers.
"Although we graduated our No. 1 and No. 6 runners [Phil Rizzo and Mike Topp], I believe we are stronger than last year," Barker said. "We have more depth than ever with 12 freshman and several returning runners who had very good track seasons last winter and spring.
"I have no idea at this point who are top seven will be, but if we stay healthy I think we will be far better than last year."
