Lions Ranked 10th in Region for Second-Consecutive Week

NEW ORLEANS, LA.-- For the second-consecutive week, Mars Hill's women's cross country team is ranked 10th in the Southeast Region in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Poll, which was released Tuesday.

Mars Hill is coming off a fifth-place finish among Division II schools in the Winthrop Invitational. The Lions have notched a second-place finish in the Hyder-McMahill Invitational and a third-place finish in the Spartanburg Eye Opener this season. MHU was ranked 10th in both last-week's USTFCCCA poll and the USTFCCCA Preseason Poll.

Jessica Viscusi has placed among the top 10 runners in each race this season. The junior most-recently placed sixth among Division II runners in the Winthrop Invitational.

The Lions' depth has helped the team so far this season, with four runners also earning points in races for MHU. Faith Trammell, Heidi Hooker, Anje Kidd and Savannah Hulbert have all finished among Mars Hill's top five runners this season.

Mars Hill is ranked third among South Atlantic Conference schools in the poll. Wingate (2nd) and Anderson (7th) are also ranked.

Click Here for USTFCCCA Regional Rankings

USTFCCCA rankings are determined subjectively by a single-member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning team strength with current-season results in determining predicted finish in the NCAA Regional Championships.

The top three teams in the Southeast Regional Championship receive automatic-qualifying bids to the NCAA Championships. This year's Championship race will be held in Spokane, Wash.

Mars Hill will compete in the Louisville Classic Saturday, Oct. 5.