2023 NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The winds of change swept through the most recent installment of the NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll that was released on Thursday by the NAIA National Office.
NAIA — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Indiana Wesleyan
Indiana Wesleyan
2
The Master's (Calif.)
The Master's (Calif.)
3
Milligan (Tenn.)
Milligan (Tenn.)
4
Saint Mary (Kan.)
Saint Mary (Kan.)
5
Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Top-ranked Indiana Wesleyan held its spot from the previous week, but the same couldn’t be said for the rest of the top-10. Nearly every other spot in the upper echelon behind the Wildcats saw movement as a big weekend shook up the national landscape. Speaking of IWU, it hauled in 16 of a possible 19 first-place votes in Week 2.
The Master’s (Calif.) leapfrogged Milligan (Tenn.) into the No. 2 spot, pushing the Buffs to No. 3. Coaches gave the Mustangs the nod thanks to their effort two weeks ago at their own invitational, where they won handily over NCAA DIII No. 1 Pomona-Pitzer. The Master’s (Calif.) raked in three first-place votes, while Milligan (Tenn.) snagged the lone remaining chart-topper. The Buffs are antsy to get back on the course with their top squad for the first time since they finished third behind two NCAA DI programs at the Virginia Tech Invitational back on September 15.
Saint Mary (Kan.) held steady at No. 4, but Eastern Oregon soared three spots to No. 5. The Mountaineers waged an 8k battle against Mt. SAC at the Charles Bowles Willamette XC Invitational this past weekend. When the dust settled, EOU notched a two-point win, 77-79. Depth won out for the Mountaineers, as they were able to overcome a 1-5 finish by the Mounties. Also in that field was College of Idaho, formerly ranked No. 7.
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 2: No. 6 Dordt (Iowa), No. 7 Cumberlands (Ky.), No. 8 Oklahoma City, No. 9 College of Idaho and No. 10 Montreat (N.C.).
Mark your calendar for Friday, November 10, because that’s when the 2023 NAIA Cross Country Championships will be held at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver, Washington.
