BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford women's cross-country team was ranked 12^th in the South Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association on Monday.
 
The Bulldogs are in impressive company as seven of the 11 teams ahead of Samford are from Power 5 conferences. Alabama is ranked No. 1 in the rankings, followed by Ole Miss, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee, Florida, Lipscomb, Kennesaw State and Belmont.
 
The Samford women's team finished second in the Southern Conference in 2020, and the squad returns seven performers from that team.
 
Among the returners are McKenzie Hogue, Mary Kellison Thorne, Katie Strozier, Harper McGowan, Allison Nelson, Tatum Foreman and Lindsey Biggar. Newcomers Brenna Beucler, Ayers Legget, Sinkenesh Parker, Macie Pfeuffer, Katie Snodgrass and Caylee Wagner join the team as newcomers this season.

Samford opened the 2021 season at the UNA Showcase last Friday. In the event, the Bulldogs placed fifth in a tough field that featured four SEC schools. Hogue led the team, placing 15^th out of 171 runners, with a time of 17:19.96.
 
Samford will next be in action at the Alexander/Asics Invitational, Oct. 2 in Fairburn, Ga.
 
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