2022 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 4
NEW ORLEANS – The season is heating up and the #RunToStillwater continues!
Here is the newest edition of the NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll for the 2022 season, as released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Remember that this poll is conducted by counting votes from 11 member coaches – one from each of the division’s nine regions (who also do the regional rankings) – as well as two members from the NCAA Cross Country Executive Committee.
NCAA Division I — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
NC State2
New Mexico3
Oklahoma State4
Northern Arizona5
BYUCross Country Polls & Rankings
All of the same faces make up the National Coaches’ Poll, but five teams have found new homes. NC State continued to reel in all 11 first-place votes to maintain its position as the top-ranked team, followed by new No. 2 New Mexico (up one spot), new No. 3 Oklahoma State (down one spot), No. 4 Northern Arizona, No. 5 BYU, new No. 6 Alabama (up four spots), No. 7 Colorado, new No. 8 Stanford (down two spots), No. 9 Washington and new No. 10 Notre Dame (down two spots).
The Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational set the stage for a showdown among four of the nation’s top teams. NC State showed why they are the top ranked team in the National Coaches’ Poll and romped to the team title with 55 points. The Wolfpack was paced by Katelyn Tuohy’s individual crown and placed four runners in the top-12. New Mexico, who opened up the season with their top runners, captured runner-up honors and held off a tough Alabama team, 68-70. The Crimson Tide, previously ranked No. 10, came in third and topped former No. 8 Notre Dame by 74 points.
North Carolina and Georgetown both climbed the leaderboard following strong performances at the Paul Short Run. The Tarheels improved one spot from No. 11 to No. 10 after capturing the team title in the Women’s College Gold 6k, with the Hoyas jumping five spots from No. 18 to No. 13 following their second-place finish to UNC.
Two other teams jumped multiple spots in Week 4: Michigan State went from No. 19 to No. 17; California Baptist went from No. 21 to No. 19. Both teams were idle this past weekend and improved based on their efforts at the Roy Griak Invitational.
There are three new faces to the National Coaches’ Poll this week. Utah State, who was previously not ranked, moved to No. 23 after beating former No. 16 Utah Valley and Villanova at the Paul Short Run. Florida State and Furman both moved from the Land of Receiving Votes. The Seminoles ran to a fifth-place finish at the Joe Piane Invitational, while the Paladins were victorious at the Live in Lou Classic.
Mark your calendars for November 19, as that’s when the 2022 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships will be held at the OSU Cross Country Course in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Don’t forget that the championship races will be broadcast commercial-free once again on ESPNU.
