The Billikens Cross Country team has run its way to the regional rankings. The women’s team is now ranked No.14 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association rankings for the Midwest region. The team will hope that success follows them to the Atlantic 10 Championship this weekend.

A major reason for the success and ranking is the cross country team’s success at the Bradley Classic where the women’s team placed 2^nd in the meet. The team was led by Margo Richardson who placed third overall at Bradley and all the female runners placed in the top 50 at Bradley.

The team will compete in the A-10 championship this weekend at Temple University.

“Both teams are poised to do well,” Cross Country Head Coach Jon Bell said.

The women’s side has had a lot of success this season. Richardson has been the top runner on the women’s side for the Bills and set a 6K record at Bradley with a time of 20:37.

Bell has high expectations for the women’s team going into the A-10 championships.

“I think that the women’s team in the top five of the conference,” Bell said.

However, Bell pointed out that cross country is a team sport and that the success of how the team is not up just to Richardson and the other team members.

“Everyone has do well this meet, particularly Elise Medley. This is her last conference championship and if she does well, then the whole team will do well,” Bell said.

On the men’s side, the team will be led by Tim Zellmer and Michael Scolarci. Zellmer and Scolarci had personal records at the Bradley Classic where they placed 15^th and 21^st, respectively.

Bell described the men’s team as “young” and hopes they can place in the top ten in conference.

“Mike and Tim are just sophomores, the men’s side has been interested because all eight of runners have scored this season,” Bell said.

Bell said that is sort of a “crapshoot” to see who will place on the men’s side at the A-10 championship. However, he describes it as a good problem to have this season.

“I would just like to be a top ten programs in conference this season, our best conference finish in 11^th so far and placing in the top ten would be great,” Bell said.

Bell hopes the cross country season will end on a high note.

The team will be running in Philadelphia this weekend and it seems have expectations to live up for the championship.