The Liberty men's cross country team is ranked No. 15 in the Southeast Region to start the 2015 season, as announced today by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Defending Southeast Regional champion Virginia is ranked No. 1, followed by 2014 regional runner-up Furman at No. 2 and 2015 regional third-place finisher North Carolina at No. 3.

Liberty, which placed 15th at the 2014 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships, returns two of its top four finishers from that meet. Senior Sam Hibbs placed 99th, with redshirt junior Josh Showalter following in the 105th position. Jeremie Bourget is also back after a redshirt season. He came in 31st at the 2013 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships as a sophomore.

The 2015 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships will be contested on Nov. 13 at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va. Liberty will preview the Panorama Farms course on Wednesday, when the Flames and Lady Flames open the 2015 season at the UVa Duals. The men's and women's athletes will each contest 4K races, with the day's action starting at 5 p.m.

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