FAMU men’s X-C ranked top HBCU team in South Region

The FAMU men’s cross country team claimed the top spot among historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) this week in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s (USTFCCCA) South Region. The Rattlers ranked 12th, overall. They came in one spot behind the Alabama Crimson Tide, which held the regional championship from 2008-2010.

FAMU was third among Florida teams. The University of Florida ranked first. Defending regional champion Florida State was second. Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida International, Central Florida, and South Florida all failed to place.

Other HBCUs in the South Region include: Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Bethune-Cookman, Mississippi Valley State, Savannah State, and Tennessee State.

The placing shows that the Rattlers are on track to successfully defend their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) crown.

Four runners from last year’s MEAC championship team have returned. One is Elias Chesire, who won the 2012 MEAC Outstanding Cross Country Athlete honor. Additionally, All-MEAC performers Kevin Marindich, Dieumy Duclos and Robyel Kidane are back.

The Rattlers competed in the Georgia State Invitational on Friday, finishing second to the then-fifth-ranked Auburn Tigers and defeating the then-ninth-ranked University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

“The teams performance was very good,” Head Coach Wayne Angel said following the meet. “We almost defeated SEC powerhouse Auburn today.  Chesire struggled, but I'm confident that he will rise to the occasion in Fayetteville in two weeks.  Although conditions were tough today with high temperatures and many rolling hills, these Rattlers still struck fear in the hearts of their competition. I'm so proud of them,” Angel concluded.