2023 NCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 4
NEW ORLEANS – Here is the newest edition of the NCAA Division II Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll for the 2023 season, as released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday afternoon.
Remember that this poll is conducted by counting votes from eight member coaches – one from each of the division’s eight regions – who also do the Regional Rankings.
NCAA Division II — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
2
Adams State
Adams State
3
Colo. School of Mines
Colo. School of Mines
4
Winona State
Winona State
5
Western Colorado
Western Colorado
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
We were promised fireworks at the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic this weekend, and boy did it deliver. No. 1 Grand Valley State dethroned No. 2 Adams State in dominating fashion. With Natalie Graber up front, the Lakers put three runners in the top ten and tallied just 58 points in a race chalk full of ranked teams. The Grizzlies couldn’t keep pace, stringing together 95 points despite holding the lead through the first two kilometers. The two powerhouses will have just over a month to prepare for a rematch at the NCAA DII Cross Country Championships.
No. 5 Western Colorado cracked the top-5 for the first time since 2019 as the Mountaineers stood their ground at the Chili Pepper Festival amongst an onslaught of NCAA DI competition to finish on the podium. Creeping up behind them is No. 6 Lee (Tenn.), who saw a major increase in stock following an impressive showing at the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic. Burning brighter than even, the Flames beat No. 7 UC-Colorado Springs on the back of a breakout performance by Aria Hawkins.
No. 12 West Texas A&M is on a tear. Like many other teams, the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic was a deciding factor for which direction the Buffs would be moving in the polls. In this case it was up – way up – 15 spots up to be exact. Former M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week Sarah Koomson headed the charge with a bronze medal on the individual side as teammate Eleonora Curtabbi swooped in to take tenth. No. 19 Mississippi College (who surged six spots themselves) and No. 22 Pittsburg State didn’t pose a threat on the 6k course.
No. 11 Chico State, No. 13 Biola (Calif.), No. 14 Wingate, No. 27 Western Washington, and No. 28 Minnesota State also improved their billing in Week 1.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 18, as the 2023 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships will take place at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in Joplin, Missouri!
