2023 NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A sliver of light has opened up at the top of the Week 2 edition of the NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, which was released on Thursday by the NAIA National Office.
NAIA — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Taylor (Ind.)
Taylor (Ind.)
2
Milligan (Tenn.)
Milligan (Tenn.)
3
College of Idaho
College of Idaho
4
Saint Mary (Kan.)
Saint Mary (Kan.)
5
The Master's (Calif.)
The Master's (Calif.)
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Taylor (Ind.) remains No. 1, but they are now one vote shy of being a unanimous selection. The defending national champion Trojans were third as the top NAIA program in the Blue Division of the Live in Lou Classic, led by Audrey Brinkruff’s fourth-place finish.
No. 2 Milligan (Tenn.) garnered one first place vote in the latest balloting. The Buffs – runner-up last year after winning in 2021 – scored a perfect 15 points in winning their own Eli Cramer Invitational two weeks ago.
Holding steady at No. 3 is College of Idaho. The Yotes are three-for-three this year, most recently winning the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational as Sage Martin – current M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week – won over teammate Abbey Shirts.
Saint Mary (Kan.) climbed up two spots to No. 4. The Spires were third as the leading NAIA program two weeks ago at the Cowboy Jamboree in their most recent appearance.
The Master’s (Calif.) is No. 5. The Mustangs finished third as the top NAIA team in their own The Master’s Invitational two weeks ago, with Hannah Fredericks – a two-time M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week this year – taking individual honors.
Completing the top-10 are No. 6 Dordt (Iowa), No. 7 Southern Oregon, No. 8 Concordia (Neb.), No. 9 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) and No. 10 Cumberlands (Ky.).
The 2023 NAIA Cross Country Championships are scheduled to be held Friday, November 17, at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver, Washington.
