NEW ORLEANS -- The Carson-Newman women's cross country team dropped one spot to No. 8 in the Southeast Region in the latest United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association poll, USTFCCCA officials announced Tuesday.

The Lady Eagles fell despite having their best finish of the 2009 campaign last Saturday with a second place showing in the Belmont Abbey Invitational. The reason behind C-N's fall was the first place finish by Converse in the event. Converse was ranked one spot behind the Lady Eagles before the win.

Queens of Charlotte is ranked first in the region, followed by Lees-McRae, Lenoir-Rhyne, Columbus State, Augusta State and Anderson. Rounding out the poll are Converse, C-N, Montevallo and Georgia College.

The C-N cross country teams return to action on Oct. 17 in the USC Upstate Invitational at the Milliken Research Center in Spartanburg, S.C.