2019 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 3
NEW ORLEANS – There must be a storm brewing in the NCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll.
That must be one of the reasons as to why the top-10 of the weekly index has remained as unscathed as it has during the first four weeks of the season.
NCAA Division I — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona
2
BYU
BYU
3
Washington
Washington
4
Colorado
Colorado
5
Iowa State
Iowa State
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Northern Arizona headlines the National Coaches’ Poll for the 25th week in a row, moving closer and closer to the modern era record for consecutive weeks on top. Behind the Lumberjacks sit No. 2 BYU, No. 3 Washington, No. 4 Colorado and No. 5 Iowa State for the fourth week in a row.
The second-ranked Cougars were the only team in the top-5 that competed this past weekend. National Athlete of the Week Conner Mantz led BYU to a runner-up finish at the Bill Dellinger Invitational thanks to his individual title. Mantz was one of just three Cougars in the top-15.
Oregon captured the team title at the Bill Dellinger Invitational and was rewarded as such. The Ducks flew from No. 11 to No. 7 – essentially swapping spots with now No. 11 Portland – which is their first time in the national top-10 since Week 2 of last year and only their fourth time in that realm in the past 14 weeks. Oregon put three runners in the top-10, including James West and Cooper Teare, who were third and fourth, respectively.
Virginia climbed from No. 22 to No. 17 after a victory at its own Panorama Farms Invitational. The Cavaliers, who cracked the national top-20 for the 15th year in a row, made quick work of the competition this past weekend as they scored just 35 points and put their entire top-7 in the top-15 led by Ari Klau in fourth place.
UCLA jumped four spots from No. 24 to No. 20 thanks to its effort at the Bill Dellinger Invitational. The Bruins, who tie their best rank this early in the season since 2015, were the only team with three runners in the top-7 as Robert Brandt (2nd), Garrett Reynolds (5th) and Colin Burke (7th) guided the way.
Eastern Kentucky moved up two spots from No. 28 to No. 26 despite not racing this past weekend. The Colonels will be one of 10 nationally-ranked teams in action at the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational this weekend, joining No. 4 Colorado, No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 13 Colorado State, No. 14 Ole Miss, No. 15 NC State, No. 16 Michigan, No. 18 Wyoming, No. 19 Indiana and No. 21 Purdue.
Boise State and Alabama rejoined the top-30 after a short stay in the Land of Receiving Votes. The Broncos recently finished a clear fourth at the Bill Dellinger Invitational.
Be sure to check back throughout the season as the National Coaches’ Poll will continue to shift ahead of the 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, which will be held on November 23 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana.
