The Miner cross country team’s strong start to the 2007 season earned the team a spot in the Top 25 for NCAA Division II in the poll released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

With finishes among the top three teams in each of the first three meets of the season, followed by a finish of third among the NCAA Division II schools at the Greater Louisville Classic in late September, the Miners moved to the No. 15 spot in the national poll.

The Miners were ranked 20th after a third-place finish out of 36 teams at the Southern Stampede in Joplin, Mo., following finishes of third at the University of Kansas and second in the Miner Invitational Sept. 8.

UMR also worked its way up to third in the Great Lakes regional rankings and looked for strong finishes at both the conference and regional meets. The team placed third at the conference meet and seventh at the regional meet.