NEW ORLEANS, La. – As the 2010 cross country season approaches this weekend, the Jacksonville State men's cross country team was listed among the top teams in the South Region Rankings, announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's Preseason Poll.

The Gamecocks are ranked 13th in the region and are one of two Ohio Valley Conference teams represented in the region polls. Defending 2009 OVC Champions, Eastern Kentucky were slotted 15th in the Southeast listing. The Southeastern Conference landed six schools in the South Region, including Alabama, who sits atop the poll. JSU joins in-state foes Auburn and South Alabama in the ranking.

JSU launches its 2010 season on Saturday, hosting the JSU/Strut's Season Opener at the Oxford Lake & Recreation Center. The women's 4K will get underway at 9 a.m., followed by the men's 5K at 9:30 a.m. Seven other teams from around the region will join the Gamecocks in the opening meet, including defending champions on the men's and women's side Kennesaw State. The KSU men enter the weekend ranked 8th in the region.

The Gamecocks, under the direction of Steve Ray, enter the 2010 campaign having finished fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference on the men's side and fifth among the women's teams at the 2009 championship. Senior George Kiplagat leads the Gamecock men after placing sixth at the OVC meet as a junior to garner All-OVC accolades. On the women's side, sophomore Ashley Stovall, who became the first female in JSU history to earn OVC All-Conference honors in cross country with a top 10 finish.

"As has been the custom for the past four years we are proud to be the host of the season opening meet for the teams in our area. Like all other teams we are still making our way through the drudgery associated with the pre-season and though we hope to start well, we realize that our most important meets are still two months away,” said JSU head coach Steve Ray. “I do think we'll have a few individuals run well on Saturday but as a whole we are not where we need or want to be at this time. Again, it's a long season and I think we'll continue to improve as individuals and jell as a unit over the course of the next couple of months,” added Ray.

The JSU/Strut's Season Opener is one of two meets hosted by Jax State this season. The Gamecocks will host the JSU Foothills Invitational on Oct. 9.

Following this weekend's action, the Red and White return to competition on Sept. 10 in Atlanta, Ga. to take part in the Georgia State Invitational.