2024 NCAA DIII Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Preseason
NEW ORLEANS – The last time a team from the WIAC won a national title at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships was nine years ago when UW-Eau Claire reigned supreme.
The coaches who vote for the NCAA DIII Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll expect that to change as UW-La Crosse headlines the preseason edition of the index, which was released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
National Coaches’ Polls are presented by AthleticNET.
NCAA Division III — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
UW-La Crosse
UW-La Crosse
2
Wartburg
Wartburg
3
UW-Whitewater
UW-Whitewater
4
Pomona-Pitzer
Pomona-Pitzer
5
Lynchburg
Lynchburg
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
This is uncharted territory for UW-La Crosse, who is No. 1 in the preseason poll for the first time in program history. The Eagles, who finished runner-up at the NCAA Championships last year by just one point, were No. 1 in both Week 7 and Week 8 leading up to that meet. UW-La Crosse returns five members of that scoring lineup, led by Joey Sullivan (59th in 2023). The Eagles will miss the services of since graduated, 2023 individual champion Ethan Gregg and Isaac Wegner.
Wartburg begins the season at No. 2, which is only the second time it started this high in program history (No. 1 in 2021). The Knights were fifth last year in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, led by the since graduated Christopher Collet, who finished 12th overall. Collet is the lone loss from that squad, as Wartburg returns six of its top-7 athletes, namely Sammy Schmitz and Jacob Green.
UW-Whitewater is third, which is its highest ranking in program history, regardless of poll. The Warhawks finished tenth in back-to-back years at the NCAA Championships, but are expected to soar higher in 2024. UW-Whitewater has a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup with individual favorite Christian Patzka and Gunner Schneider. Patzka enters the cross country season after winning outdoor titles in both the steeplechase and 5000 meters.
Defending champion Pomona-Pitzer sits fourth to begin the season. The Sagehens lost four athletes from that winning squad, but should continue fighting for a national title knowing their prestigious history (Pomona-Pitzer won three of the past four team titles offered). The Sagehens will be led by top returner Cameron Halter, who finished 25th at the NCAA meet last year.
Lynchburg polishes off the top-5 at No. 5 for its best ranking in program history. The Hornets return six of seven athletes who helped them finish ninth at the NCAA Championships last year. Chief among those returners is Sam Llaneza, who comes into the cross country season fresh off winning the 1500-meter title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Chasen Hunt should give Lynchburg another potential low stick following his own strong outdoor season.
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in the preseason: No. 6 North Central (Ill.), No. 7 Williams, No. 8 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, No. 9 RPI and No. 10 Carnegie Mellon.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 23, because that’s when the 2024 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships will be held at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana.
