National Cross Country Poll in Division I Has Largest Shift of the Year

NEW ORLEANS – The latest national cross country poll in Division I by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has, by no surprise, seen some shifts in its upper- to mid-ranks. The previous weekend provided some of the best looks of the teams to watch come November and championship season.

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MEN: The top three spots remain unchanged as Stanford, Oklahoma State, and Oregon hold on to top spots. However, Oklahoma State is now evenly-splitting first-place votes with Stanford and just a point behind in the poll. The Cardinal was dominant in their win of the Blue-division race at the Pre-National Invitational, sweeping the top three individual spots and scoring just 43 points to nearest competitor now-No. 4 Iona.

The No. 2 Cowboys of Oklahoma State was just as impressive in their win at the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. Oklahoma State tallied just 22 points to No. 7 Indiana’s 73 and now-No. 10 Arkansas’ 74. Oregon remains at No. 3 after winning their home Bill Dellinger Invitational.

Finishing second to Stanford at the Pre-National meet was now-No. 4 Iona, who makes their first appearance in the top five since 2008. Oklahoma, ranked just five times in the national poll before this year, surged to No. 5 – their first-ever appearance in the national top five. The Sooners won the White-division race of the Pre-National meet and topped nine nationally-ranked teams including then-No. 4 Colorado.

At No. 8 Florida State makes their first visit to the top ten since 2006.

The Big East and ACC each have five teams in the top 30 to lead all conferences. The Big 12 is next with four, followed by the SEC, Big Ten and Pac-10 with three apiece.

WOMEN: In the women’s poll, the only notable change at the top is that Villanova, who had all 12 first-place votes throughout the season, has one less this week as No. 4 Texas Tech was the beneficiary. Colorado’s women moved from No. 9 to their season best at No. 7 after a second-place finish in the White-division race at the Pre-National Invitational. Stanford’s women moved up eight spots to No. 9, reaching the top ten for the first time this season as they came third to No. 5 Georgetown and Colorado.

Receiving a place in the poll for the first time this season, No. 15 Texas was vaulted to their current position after placing fifth in the Blue-division race at the Pre-National Invitational. For the Longhorns, it is the squad’s best rank since being picked 16th on October 19, 1999. No. 22 California also is in the rankings for the first time this season, and is experiencing their best ranking since at least 1995 after topping three nationally ranked teams at the Pre-National meet.

The University of San Francisco at No. 26 is in the national poll for the first time in their history. The Dons from the West Coast Conference topped three ranked teams at the Pre-National race, including then-No. 19 Michigan and then-No. 23 NC State.

Overall, the ACC has broken out as the conference chart-topper with six institutions in the top 30. The Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-10 each have five in the top 30, followed by the Big East’s four.

The next regular national poll will be announced on November 2, following conference championship weekend. The October 26th poll is a scheduled “repeat” week as all current rankings will hold true for the upcoming week. The NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships will be held on Monday, November 22 in Terre Haute, Ind.