North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Women Ranked First in ACC Preseason Poll; Men Selected Third
9/3/2021 11:02:00 AM | Cross Country
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Both NC State cross country programs are predicted to finish in the top three in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), as announced by the league office on Friday with the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Wolfpack women were selected to finish first for the sixth-straight season while the ACC coaches anticipate the men will finish in third. NC State's women's squad received 14 of the league's 15 first-place votes while the men's team tabbed one.
The NC State women claimed their fifth consecutive ACC title in 2021, and returning graduate student Dominique Clairmonte took her first career individual conference title. Her win marked the second-straight season in which a member of the Wolfpack has won the individual crown.
The team's three 2020 All-Americans, Kelsey Chmiel, Hannah Steelman and Katelyn Tuohy, return for the 2021 season. Head Coach Laurie Henes brings in the New York State Gatorade Track & Field and Cross Country Player of the Year in Brooke Rauber in addition to graduate transfer and two-time USTFCCCA All-Region honoree Allie Hays (Columbia).
On the men's side, the squad brings back four of its five All-ACC honorees from the 2020 conference runner-up squad. Ian Shanklin looks to post another successful season after tabbing All-America honors in 2019 and placing second individually at the 2020 ACC Championships. The men's team welcomes 2021 Tennessee State Gatorade Track & Field Player of the Year Miles Ally for the upcoming season.
Both squads were ranked nationally in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Assocation (USTFCCCA) Preseason Coaches Poll. The women's program checked in at No. 2, its highest preseason ranking in program history, while the men were slotted at T-No. 28.
NC State opens its 2021 campaign Friday, Sept. 17 as it hosts the adidas XC Challenge at the WakeMed Cross Country Course in Cary, N.C.
2021 ACC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
- NC State
- North Carolina
- Florida State
- Notre Dame
- Georgia Tech
- Duke
- Virginia
- Syracuse
- Wake Forest
- Boston College
- Virginia Tech
- Louisville
- Pitt
- Clemson
- Miami
2021 ACC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
- Notre Dame
- Wake Forest
- NC State
- Syracuse
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Duke
- Florida State
- Virginia Tech
- Pitt
- Georgia Tech
- Louisville
- Clemson
- Boston College
- Miami
#GoPack | @PackXC
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