2023 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 5
NEW ORLEANS – Conference Championships Weekend left its mark.
Here is the newest edition of the NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll for the 2023 season, as released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Numerous changes befell the index between Week 4 and Week 5, which goes to show just how important racing for conference glory can be for many teams.
NCAA Division I — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona
2
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State
3
BYU
BYU
4
California Baptist
California Baptist
5
North Carolina
North Carolina
5
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
It’s never been closer at the top this season, as Northern Arizona and Oklahoma State are separated by just one point, 325-324. The Big Sky champion Lumberjacks hauled in six first-place votes from the electorate, while the Big 12 champion Cowboys nabbed the other five. OSU made it look relatively easy at the Big 12 Championships this past weekend, putting all five of its scorers in the top-10 and another in the top-15 to beat No. 3 BYU handily, 25-55. Brian Musau and Alex Maier went 1-2 for the Cowboys in Ames, Iowa, and Fouad Messaoudi finished fifth.
ACC champion North Carolina surged six spots to match a program-best ranking at No. 5, a spot it held in both Week 2 and Week 3. The Tar Heels won their first conference title since 1985 and were blessed with an ultimate low stick from M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week Parker Wolfe, who captured their first individual title since 1999. Wolfe wasn’t the only UNC athlete in the top-10, as he was joined by three other teammates in fourth, sixth and ninth.
Write off Wisconsin and Stanford at your own peril, because the electorate won’t. The Big Ten champion Badgers and the Pac-12 champion Cardinal soared more than 15 spots after their respective wins. Wisconsin, which jumped from No. 24 into a tie for No. 5, bulldozed the Big Ten on its way to the 54th conference title in program history. Stanford, which went from No. 25 to No. 10, made quick work of the Pac-12 and became the single winningest program in meet history with its 17th crown (The Cardinal had been locked in a 16-all tie with Oregon).
Other notable improvements included Big East champion Butler barking up the National Coaches’ Poll tree 18 spots from No. 30 to No. 12, and both Oregon and Washington going from the Land of Receiving Votes to No. 22 and No. 26, respectively, after its strong efforts at the Pac-12 Championships. Florida State also got back into the National Coaches’ Poll at No. 29.
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.
