Men's XC #14 in Pre-Season Poll

Check it out:

http://www.portlandpilots.com/sports/mxcountry/release.asp?release_id=4484

This team is pretty stacked at the top... Moore, Kinsella, and Kilburg are all awesome. The real question will be who fills out the rest of the top 7... Justin Houck for sure, and probably Mike Quackenbush. And what about Zuber Ahmed? He's battled injury for years now, but he's got a ton of talent. Or any of the freshmen who redshirted last year? It will be interesteding to see.

Anyway, their first meet is this Firday @ Pier Park at 4 pm, though I don't think many of the top people will be running.

Good luck Pilot Hariers!

The women just moved up in the regional ranking from 9th to 6th!

http://www.portlandpilots.com/sports/wxcountry/release.asp?release_id=4516

Awesome!!!

The new national polls just came out today... the men moved up to No. 11:

http://ustfccca.cstv.com/

Portland isn't in the women's poll, but all of the teams who UP is behind in the West Region are either ranked or receiving votes, which means that the Pilots are probably one strong performance away from at least receiving votes. Very exciting!!!

The women's team is stacked too... with Bobeya Krishnek, Dana Morgan, Sifrash Ademe, Amie Dahnke, Allison Ritchie, Natalie Hemphill and all of the newcomers and returners... best Pilot team ever? I think it's very possible.

Anyway, both team's next big meet is the Bill Dellinger Invitational down in Eugene this weekend.

Good luck Pilots!!!

Is this the highest the Men have ever been rated during a season?

I don't know about polls, but at the NCAA championships they placed 7th in 2001-2, and 9th in 2005.

They might have done even better other years.

I believe the men went into nationals just this previous year ranked in the Top 10.

Yes, the boys were ranked ninth going into last season. I'll let you know how we all race this weekend!

If you check out the Pilot podcast you can here interviews with Ian Solof (coach of the women's team) and Rob Conner (coach of the men). Pretty cool:

http://www.portlandpilots.com/

Then click on the Pilots Podcasting link above the picture at the bottom of the blurb about Video and Podcasting.

Gooooooo Pilots!

Yo... there's a good release out about the meets here:

http://www.portlandpilots.com/sports/mxcountry/release.asp?release_id=4525

Goooooooo Pilots!