The U.S. Track & Field and Cross County Coaches Association released its preseason poll today with the Fighting Illini beginning the season No. 8 in the Midwest Region.
The No. 8 ranking moves the squad up two spots from last year's 10th place finish at the Peoria regional. The team returns their top-five performers from the 2014 meet, forming a veteran core that hopes to move the Illini towards an appearance at the national meet.
The Illini are one of the four Big Ten schools in the Midwest Region top-15, with Minnesota garnering the highest ranking at No. 2. Northwestern and Iowa round out the four, ranking 10th and 11th respectively.
Scott Jones' team begins their season with the Illini Challenge at 6:30pm on Friday, September 4, hosting ninth-ranked Missouri at the UI Arboretum.
