2021 NCAA DIII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 1
NEW ORLEANS – Prepare for a wild season in NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country!
Twenty-four teams shifted spots in the most recent edition of the NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, which was released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
NCAA Division III — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins
2
Washington (Mo.)
Washington (Mo.)
3
Wartburg
Wartburg
4
Chicago
Chicago
5
Tufts
Tufts
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Nothing changed at the top, though, as Johns Hopkins and Washington (Mo.) remained No. 1 and No. 2. The Blue Jays, who received all 10 first-place votes from the electorate, opened their season at the Johns Hopkins Kickoff Classic with a clean sweep. Johns Hopkins took eight of the top-9 spots, led by freshman Ashley Heidenrich. The Bears cruised to a perfect score in a dual meet against Greenville back on September 1.
Both Wartburg and UChicago improved their standing following dynamic performances to begin the season. The Knights, who jumped one spot from No. 4 to No. 3, rolled to an easy win at the Les Duke Invitational, as they put six runners in the top-10, including four in the top-5. The Maroons, who climbed three spots from No. 7 to No. 4, stole the show at the Saints Twilight XC Invitational with a near-perfect score (17 points) to take down the reigning NAIA champion.
Another star of the first few weeks of the season has been SUNY Geneseo. The Knights, who went from No. 13 to No. 11, runner-up to NCAA Division I Dartmouth at the Maribel Sanchez-Souther Invitational. Kathleen McCarey and Windsor Ardner led SUNY Geneseo at the meet, placing fourth and fifth, respectively.
George Fox vaulted into the National Coaches’ Poll for the first time in program history at No. 16. The Bruins had a pair of favorable results so far this season, finishing third behind Oregon and Portland at the Lewis & Clark Opener Chase Race on September 1, followed by a victory at the Ash Creek Collegiate over Western Oregon and Lane CC, among others.
Bates is now ranked 22nd after clawing its way up nine spots since the preseason release. The Bobcats recently won the CBB Class Wave Races, a triangular meet against Bowdoin and Colby.
Three teams, other than George Fox, joined the top-35 for the first time this season: UC Santa Cruz at No. 26, Brandeis at No. 29 and Haverford at No. 32. This is only the ninth time in program history that the Banana Slugs earned a spot among the nation’s top teams and they’re just one place from matching their best rank in program history (No. 25 in 2019).
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 20, when the 2021 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships will be held at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park in Louisville, Kentucky!
