The Liberty men's cross country team, which took this past weekend off from competition, is still ranked No. 7 in the Southeast Region, as announced today by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

A light weekend of action across the Southeast Region meant that the top 11 teams in the regional rankings remained the same for the second week in a row. North Carolina still tops the region, followed by Eastern Kentucky and Virginia.

After racing on back-to-back Saturdays at the VMI Invitational (Sept. 21) and Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational (Sept. 28), the Flames and Lady Flames took this past weekend off from competition.

Liberty will send a partial team to McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte, N.C., on Friday for the Royal Cross Country Challenge. The women's 5K race will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the men's 8K at 5:45.

Many of the top Flames and Lady Flames will return to action on Oct. 19. That day, Liberty's men's and women's squads will square off against a bevy of nationally and regionally ranked opponents at the ISU Pre-National Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind.

USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Southeast Region Men's Cross Country Rankings
1) North Carolina
2) Eastern Kentucky
3) Virginia
4) Duke
5) N.C. State
6) Kentucky
7) Liberty
8) Furman
9) Louisville
10) Virginia Tech
11) William & Mary
12) High Point
13) Wake Forest
14) Appalachian State
15) Richmond