2021 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 6
NEW ORLEANS – The postseason is beginning to heat up.
Here is the newest edition of the NCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll for Week 6 of the 2021 season, as released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Nine top-10 teams shifted spots since Week 5, which means Conference Championships Weekend surely left its toll on the index.
NCAA Division I — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona
2
Colorado
Colorado
3
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State
4
Iowa State
Iowa State
5
Stanford
Stanford
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Top-ranked Northern Arizona was the only team to not move in the top-10 between Week 5 and Week 6. The Lumberjacks, who are still unanimous after receiving all 11 first-place votes, rolled to the team title at the Big Sky Championships this past weekend. NAU put four runners in the top-10 and was led by the 1-2 duo of Drew Bosley and Nico Young.
Colorado jumped one spot to No. 2 after winning the team title at the Pac-12 Championships. The Buffs stampeded across the finish line, as they were the only squad with five athletes in the top-15 (Actually, they put all seven runners in the top-20). Eduardo Herrera led the way with a third-place finish with Austin Vancil (sixth) and Andrew Kent (seventh) also in the top-10. This is the fourth time in the past six years that CU has been ranked second in the nation.
Oklahoma State crept closer to the top after it lassoed a team title at the Big 12 Championships. The Cowboys, who are now ranked No. 3, took down former No. 2 Iowa State on their home course, 24-31. Oklahoma State had three top-5 finishers – led by Isai Rodriguez in second place behind Wesley Kiptoo of Iowa State – and put five in the top-10. This is the Cowboys’ best ranking since 2013, when they were No. 1 for five weeks, No. 3 for one week and then No. 2 for the final week before a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
Notre Dame improved two spots to No. 6, right behind No. 4 Iowa State and No. 5 Stanford. The Irish finally debuted a full roster at the ACC Championships and delivered how many thought they would all season. Notre Dame put three runners in the top-10 – all seven in the top-16 – as it cruised to a 52-point win over Syracuse. Dylan Jacobs (second), Danny Kilrea (fourth) and Yared Nuguse (fifth) all finished in the top-5 for the Irish.
Wisconsin swapped spots with Tulsa after winning the team title at the Big Ten Championships (It was the program’s 52nd crown). The Badgers, who are now ranked ninth, steamrolled the field in State College, Pennsylvania, as they stashed all seven runners in the top-13, including six in the top-10. Bob Liking and Olin Hacker delivered a 1-2 finish for Wisconsin.
Washington made the biggest move in Week 6, soaring 13 spots from No. 26 to No. 13. The Huskies mushed their way to a third-place finish at the Pac-12 Championships thanks to a pack mentality: UW had scorers 9-10-14-16-19 with a 34-second spread between its No. 1 and No 5.
Syracuse and Southern Utah worked their way back into the National Coaches’ Poll at No. 23 and No. 26, respectively, while Butler joined the fray from the Land of the Not Ranked. The Bulldogs are now ranked No. 28 after a team title at the BIG EAST Championships.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 20, because that’s when the 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships will take place at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida. Don’t forget that you can watch the meet LIVE, commercial-free on ESPNU beginning at 10 am ET!
