2024 NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Everything changed in the most recent edition of the 2024 NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, which was released on Thursday by the NAIA National Office. And we mean everything – seriously.
No team held their spot from the previous index.
NAIA — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
College of Idaho
College of Idaho
2
Milligan (Tenn.)
Milligan (Tenn.)
3
The Master's (Calif.)
The Master's (Calif.)
4
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
5
Saint Mary (Kan.)
Saint Mary (Kan.)
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
College of Idaho usurped Milligan (Tenn.) as the No. 1 team in the nation. The Yotes, who hauled in 13 of 20 possible first-place votes, dominated the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic their last time on the course with 31 points, 38 fewer than former No. 4 Saint Mary (Kan.). College of Idaho went 1-2-3 with Daniel Butler winning the individual title in 23:56.1. The Coyotes put four runners across the finish line before any team other than the runner-up Spires had two.
The Buffs, who earned five first-place votes, sweated out a victory at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge. Milligan (Tenn.) got all it could handle from former No. 13 Cumberlands (Ky.) in Knoxville, Tennessee. Bryn Woodall handed the Buffs the ultimate low stick, yet the Patriots flooded the top-20 individuals with four finishers. Milligan (Tenn.) escaped with the meager one-point victory thanks to Sylas Chambers beating Ryan Ehler to the finish line.
The Master’s (Calif.) and Oklahoma City split the remaining two first-place votes. The Mustangs impressed at the Highlander Invitational with a third-place effort against a plethora of NCAA DI programs, while the Stars reigned at the Southwestern College Mid-States Classic.
Saint Mary (Kan.) is now ranked No. 5 with Indiana Wesleyan, Cumberlands (Ky.), Rio Grande (Ohio), Spring Arbor (Mich.) and Taylor (Ind.) behind it in the top-10.
Mark your calendars for Friday, November 22, because that’s when the 2024 NAIA Cross Country Championships will be held at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri.
