2017 NCAA DIII Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 7
NEW ORLEANS – Conference Championship Weekend came and went in NCAA Division III Cross Country and it brought some clarity to the Men’s National Coaches’ Poll, at least when it pertains to the top-5 and those teams between No. 12 and No. 35.
The most recent index was released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) and is the penultimate version of the 2017 season.
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North Central (Ill.) remained the unanimous No. 1 following its dominant victory at the CCIW Championships and is trailed by No. 2 UW-La Crosse, the WIAC champions.
Haverford and SUNY Geneseo were tied at No. 3 in the last poll, but that changed in Week 7. Based on the Fords’ ease of victory at the Centennial Conference Championships against ranked Johns Hopkins (21 to 54) compared to the Knights’ win over an unranked field (29 to 68), voters put the former above the latter this time around.
Speaking of the Blue Jays, they were one of four teams ranked in the heart of the poll last week to jump two spots this week. Johns Hopkins went from No. 14 to No. 12, Calvin went from No. 15 to No. 13, Wartburg from No. 16 to No. 14 and Middlebury from No. 17 to No. 15.
The biggest movers from Week 6 to Week 7 included Bates, Rowan and Emory – all of whom soared seven or more spots thanks to big-time performances at conference championships.
Bates finished third at the NESCAC Championships behind a big run by Zach Magin (sixth overall) and moved up to No. 21. The Bobcats upset both Connecticut College and Williams, who were ranked ahead of them in Week 6.
Rowan snapped TCNJ’s 26-year streak of winning the NJAC title. The Profs vaulted eight spots from No. 33 to No. 25.
Emory took third place at the UAA Championships behind Washington (Mo.) and Carnegie Mellon. The Eagles, who flew from No. 35 to No. 26, toppled both NYU and Chicago there.
The next batch of National Coaches’ Polls will come out November 14 in advance of the 2017 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, which will be held November 18 in Elsah, Illinois.
