NEW ORLEANS - After two weekends of cross country competition around the nation, Appalachian State University men's cross country grabbed the No. 12 spot on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Southeast Regional Rankings on Monday.

The men moved up three spots from their 15th-placed position on the preseason rankings list released on Aug. 29. For the second-consecutive time, the Mountaineers are the sole representatives from the Sun Belt Conference featured on the list and occupy a spot above Davidson, George Mason, and Liberty. 2013 Southeast Regional Champion Eastern Kentucky tops the region followed by Virginia at No. 2 and NC State at No. 3.

App State had a spectacular showing at their home-opener on Friday, Sept. 2 at the Covered Bridge Open. Sun Belt Conference Runner of the Week Michael Ellis was the Mountaineer's top finisher crossing the finish line in fifth with a time of 20:18.14 in the 6.4K. Right behind Ellis was Chris Anderson, who clocked a personal-best of 20:24.19 and finished in sixth, and Evan Georges, who finished in seventh with a personal-best of 20:24.74.

Up next, the men will take on the University of Miami, UNCW, and Western Carolina on a 6,400-meter course in the Mountains to Sea Duals in Boone, N.C. on Friday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m.