The Drury University men's cross country squad is ranked No. 18 in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association preseason national poll released on Wednesday.
Coach Jon Van Arkel's Panthers are also ranked No. 3 in the Midwest Region preseason poll, trailing only Grand Valley State and Southern Indiana.
Drury is led by senior Jaime Villa Zapatero, the two-time defending Great Lakes Valley Conference individual champion. Other top returnees from last season's second-place team finisher in the GLVC include seniors Derek Berry and Steven Busch and junior Case Van Arkel.
The Panthers open the 2010 season in the Southwest Baptist Invitational in Bolivar on September 3.
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USTFCCCA
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NCAA Division II
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Men's Cross Country National Team Rankings
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2010 Preseason, August 25
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Rank
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Institution
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Region
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Conference
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Location
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2009 FINISH
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1
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Adams State
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Central
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RMAC
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Alamosa, Colo.
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1
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2
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Western State
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Central
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RMAC
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Gunnison, Colo.
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2
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3
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Colorado Mines
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Central
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RMAC
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Golden, Colo.
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3
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4
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Grand Valley State
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Midwest
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GLIAC
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Allendale, Mich.
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5
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5
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Chico State
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West
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CCAA
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Chico, Calif.
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8
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6
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Western Washington
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West
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GNAC
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Bellingham, Wash.
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4
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7
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Queens (N.C.)
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Southeast
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Conf. Carolinas
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Charlotte, N.C.
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7
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8
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Southern Indiana
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Midwest
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GLVC
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Evansville, Ind.
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6
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9
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Harding
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South
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Gulf South
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Searcy, Ark.
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9
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10
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Augustana (S.D.)
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Central
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NSIC
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Sioux Falls, S.D.
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10
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11
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Shippensburg
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Atlantic
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PSAC
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Shippensburg, Pa.
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13
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12
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Edinboro
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Atlantic
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PSAC
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Edinboro, Pa.
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12
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13
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UMass Lowell
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East
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Northeast-10
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Lowell, Mass.
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16
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14
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Metro State
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Central
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RMAC
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Denver, Colo.
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14
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15
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Lock Haven
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Atlantic
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PSAC
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Lock Haven, Pa.
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16
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Alaska Anchorage
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West
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GNAC
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Anchorage, Alaska
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17
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17
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American International
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East
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Northeast-10
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Springfield, Mass.
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18
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Drury
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Midwest
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GLVC
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Springfield, Mo.
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19
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Stonehill
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East
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Northeast-10
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Easton, Mass.
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21
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20
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Western Oregon
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West
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GNAC
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Monmouth, Ore.
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21
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Columbus State
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Southeast
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Peach Belt
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Columbus, Ga.
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19
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22
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Tarleton State
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South Central
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Lone Star
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Stephenville, Texas
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23
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Pittsburg State
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South Central
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MIAA
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Pittsburg, Kan.
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18
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24
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Bellarmine
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Midwest
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GLVC
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Louisville, Ky.
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25
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Fort Hays State
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South Central
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MIAA
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Hays, Kan.
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teams ranked by T.J. Garlatz, Alaska Anchorage
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