2023 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Preseason
NEW ORLEANS – Cross country is back!
Here is the preseason edition of the NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll for the upcoming 2023 season, as released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
NCAA Division I — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
NC State
NC State
2
Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona
3
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State
4
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
5
Colorado
Colorado
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
NC State is on the prowl for its third consecutive national title, as the top-ranked Wolfpack return to the grass circuit to embark upon the journey to collect another crown. The back-to-back defending national champion raked in ten first-place votes from the electorate, a measure of confidence richly deserved as they return multi-time NCAA record holder and defending individual champion Katelyn Tuohy and a downright dangerous top-5 that includes veterans such as All-Americans Amaris Tyynismaa (ninth), Kelsey Chimel (third), Samantha Bush (15th) and transfer Abbey Lovey.
Northern Arizona, garnering the lone remaining first-place vote, earned a moment that has been a long time in the making. Finishing 23rd at NCAAs in 2021 and sixth in 2022, the Lumberjacks’ arrival to the preseason elite has hardly been unanticipated, but the pieces clicked together in the offseason. NAU capitalized with an unreal incoming class and the steady upwards trend of some veterans to set this year’s team apart. Returning All-American Elise Stearns (fourth) looks to once again be the low-stick ace for the Lumberjacks, and Annika Reiss could find herself in good company with new teammates Gracelyn Larkin and Ruby Smee, among others bolstering the team’s exceptional depth.
Oklahoma State begins the season one spot better than last year’s fourth-place preseason ranking in third. The Cowgirls will rely on some familiar faces to mount an attempt for a return to the podium on November 18 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Taylor Roe (13th), leads five seasoned returners from last year’s lineup that include athletes like Molly Born and Billah Jepkiuri, who are ready to carry the momentum of successful track campaigns into the cross country season.
Notre Dame is projected to land on the podium as they are headlined by All-American and 2023 NCAA steeplechase champion Olivia Markezich, and return three of their 2022 scorers. The Fighting Irish assembled a formidable squad from their standout recruiting class that includes All-Americans Ericka VanderLende and Andrea Markezich, as well as three freshmen that have the resumes to potentially make some noise on their first year on the grass circuit.
Colorado claims the final spot on the preseason top-5. Former NCAA DIII standout Ella Baran made a huge impact in her first year in Boulder and is one of four scorers back from the 2022 squad (Baran finished 30th last year). Colorado will also rely on a formidable fresh-faced lineup that includes talented transfers Natalie Cook, who was seventh at NCAAs last year, Marliee Starliper, and the return of Emily Covert, along with two freshmen that come into the program with high expectations.
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in the preseason: No. 6 North Carolina, No. 7 BYU, No. 8 Stanford, No. 9 Florida, and No. 10 Oregon. This ties the best preseason rank in program history for the Tar Heels, while the Gators start the season with their best since 2010.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 18, because that’s when the 2023 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships will be held at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Virginia.
