2019 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 5
NEW ORLEANS – A rising tide lifts all ships.
That was the case this past weekend as strong competition across the nation propelled teams to new heights in the most recent NCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll that was released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA).
NCAA Division I — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona
2
BYU
BYU
3
Colorado
Colorado
3
Stanford
Stanford
5
Iowa State
Iowa State
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Eleven teams jumped multiple spots between Week 4 and Week 5, including five that soared eight or more since the last installment of the National Coaches’ Poll.
Meet champions from the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and the Under Armour Pre-National Invitational come in at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, while the teams that finished runner-up are tied at No. 3. That would be Northern Arizona and BYU, as well as Stanford and Colorado, for those who missed an incredible weekend of competition.
SEE MORE: Weekend In Review (October 18-20)
This is the 27th week in a row that the Lumberjacks have headlined the National Coaches’ Poll, which ties them with the women from Johns Hopkins (2015 to 2017) and the men from North Central (Ill.) (2016 to present) for the longest consecutive streak atop an NCAA index in the modern era.
The Cardinal, which put two runners in the top-5 this past weekend at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, continues to be the thorn in the NAU’s unanimous side. This is the sixth week in a row that Stanford has received a lone first-place vote.
Tulsa provided the biggest surprise of the weekend as it finished third in Wisconsin behind the Lumberjacks and the Cardinal. The Hurricane, which was ranked 28th coming into the meet, was rewarded justly as it makes landfall 22 spots higher in Week 6 at No. 6. This is Tulsa’s best national rank since 2013 when it got to fifth.
SEE MORE: On The Rise At The Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational
Look down two spots and you’ll find Iona, proud owner of the No. 8 spot. The Gaels jumped 13 spots from Week 5 thanks to a third-place finish at the Pre-National Invitational. Iona was one of just three teams to put multiple runners in the top-10.
Purdue slots in at No. 9, its best national rank in program history. The Boilermakers have been on the rise since the preseason and recently finished sixth in Wisconsin, ahead of three teams who were ranked ahead of them in Week 5.
UCLA made a 10-spot jump from No. 20 to No. 10 after finishing fifth in Wisconsin. The Bruins, who own their best national rank since Week 6 of 2017, put three runners in the top-25 led by Robert Brandt in sixth place.
If you like teams hitting high-water marks, look no further than Middle Tennessee at a program-record No. 15. The Blue Raiders were one of two nationally-ranked teams not to compete in either Indiana or Wisconsin but that didn’t matter. Middle Tennessee romped to the team title at the Texas A&M-hosted Arturo Barrios Invitational this past weekend, beating the host by 125 points.
Boise State and Florida State both climbed eight or more spots between Week 4 and Week 5. The Broncos went from No. 26 to No. 18 after a 12th-place effort at the Nuttycombe Invitational, while the Seminoles charged from No. 30 to No. 21 – its best ranking since 2014 – after a sixth-place effort at the Pre-National Invitational.
Two new teams joined the National Coaches’ Poll in Week 5: No. 19 Southern Utah and No. 29 Gonzaga. This is a big moment for the Bulldogs, as this is just their third time in the National Coaches’ Poll in program history.
Be sure to check back when the next NCAA Division I Men’s National Coaches’ Poll is released on Tuesday, November 5, following Conference Championship Weekend.
