NEW ORLEANS, La.- The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles will take their highest USTFCCCA region ranking in program history into Friday's Nike Town Twilight race after moving up one spot to No. 14 ahead of Vanderbilt in the latest poll.
 
It was an SEC heavy top of the South Regional Rankings this week as Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia were the top four head of Middle Tennessee who was down one to No. 5. The Eagles moved up one spot along with four other teams to No. 14, matching their highest ranking in program history, set first in 2012 when now Eagles head coach Argeo Cruz was a junior runner on the squad.
 
FGCU caught the attention of voters after finishing in third place in back-to-back races to start their 2026 season. They opened at the Florida Intercollegiate Invitational in Jacksonville where multiple runners broke the program's 5k record to help secure a top three team finish. The next time out they turned in another strong effort, notching their second straight third place finish in the FSU Pre-Regional 8k. 

The Eagles are back in action at the Nike Cross Country Town Twilight in Terre Haute, Ind. on Friday before returning to the Sunshine State for the Ed Holloway Classic later in the month.

For more information on the Eagles, follow them on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit FGCUathletics.com.