CANTON -- When the 2012 pre-season rankings for Division III men's cross country were released by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, St. Lawrence University found itself in an unusual position.

Not only were the Saints ranked 30th in the pre-season poll after finishing last year eighth nationally, they were in the rare position of being ranked sixth in the Atlantic Region with league opponent RPI (19th) among those ranked ahead of them.

The Saints have won 17 straight Liberty League championships, three straight NYSCTC championships and have made four straight NCAA Championship team appearances with a podium finish (third) in 2010.

"The rankings were a little surprising, but based upon graduation, not necessarily unjustified," said Saint coach John Newman, who has been Liberty League Coach of the Year in eight of the last nine years. "I don't think they are really indicative of the kind of team we are going to have this season.

"While we did graduate four of our top seven, we do have the top runner in the region returning in senior Sam Rakoc and we are a fairly young team with a large junior class. We also have one of the better freshman classes we have had in a long time. We don't have the top national-level performers and no returning All Americas, which we haven't seen in a few years, but I think we are going to have a lot tighter pack in terms of the spread and I am excited about our potential."

Rakoc, who has run in two NCAA championships, sophomore Scott Smolensky and junior Brendan Courneene return with NCAA championship level experience while Landen Elliott-Knaggs, who will captain the team along with Rakoc, plus Tyler Harris and Mark Perlman are the only other seniors on the roster.

Jon Eng, Spencer Fausel, Corey Hahnl, Zach Nelson, Steve Petramale, and Ethan Self make up a big junior group while sophomore Aaron Tompkins was an alternate for the NCAA squad last season.

"We have a lot of unproven talent, and I think anyone could step up in any race," Newman added.