The Minnesota women’s cross country team earned its highest national ranking in school history Tuesday as the Gophers were ranked fourth in the country in the U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I National Poll. “Obviously this No. 4 national ranking marks an exciting day for our program, but you don’t coach this long without knowing that a poll is just a poll,” said Gophers head coach Gary Wilson in a statement. “We have a veteran team though that understands this high of a national rank is a compliment to our program and that they have a lot of work to do this season to live up to it.” Tuesday’s ranking improves on the Gophers previous best poll position of fifth late in the 2007 season. Minnesota is one of five Big Ten teams ranked in the top 15, while Oregon maintained its post as the top team in the country. Mead earns Big Ten honor Gophers sophomore Hassan Mead recorded his first career Big Ten Runner of the Week award just days after posting a second-place finish at the Roy Griak Invitational. His time of 24:07.04 broke a 27-year old record for the Les Bolstad Golf Course. Mead and the Gophers are currently ranked 14th in the USTFCCCA poll.