2017 NCAA DI Cross Country Men’s National Coaches’ Poll – Week 3
NEW ORLEANS – A trio of strong performances from this past weekend shook up the NCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll in Week 3.
Colorado State, Illinois and Michigan State all jumped multiple spots in the most recent index released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Don’t worry Northern Arizona, Stanford, Syracuse, Colorado, Arkansas, BYU, Wisconsin, Oregon, Oklahoma State and Iona; you’re all nestled safely in the top-10 once again – in that exact order.
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Colorado State soared from No. 18 to No. 15 following its team title at the Roy Griak Invitational this past weekend in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. The Rams, led by individual champion Jerrell Mock, totaled 47 points to hold off a game effort by Michigan State. Colorado State is one spot away from tying its best ranking in the past 14 years (No. 14).
Mock made history with his individual win, though. He became just the third man in NCAA Division I history to win back-to-back individual crowns at the Roy Griak Invitational.
Speaking of the Spartans, they went from No. 25 to No. 21 after nearly beating the Rams. It was a valiant effort from Michigan State as it put three runners in the top-10 – Clark Ruiz, Max Benoit and Morgan Beadlescomb went 4-5-6 – and scored 55 points. Walt Drenth’s team did topple UCLA, a squad that was ranked above them in Week 2.
The biggest mover from Week 2 to Week 3 was Illinois. The Illini put up an incredible fight at the Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown and took the third-ranked Orange to the brink. Illinois went 1-2 with Jesse Reiser and Jonathan Davis, but fell short of the upset. Reiser and Davis did, however, help the Illini match its best ranking in program history (No. 19).
We should certainly see some changes to the poll next week as stacked lineups will take to the 8K tracts at the Bill Dellinger Invitational hosted by Oregon, the Greater Louisville Classic hosted by Louisville and the Joe Piane Invitational hosted by Notre Dame. We’ll be sure to preview all three of those meets later in the week so you’ll want to check back.
The 2017 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships will be held November 18 at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park in Louisville, Kentucky.
