2025 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 3
NEW ORLEANS – A big weekend left its mark on the newest edition of the NCAA DII Men’s National Coaches’ Poll, released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Remember that all USTFCCCA polls and rankings are presented by AthleticNET.
NCAA Division II — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Wingate
Wingate
2
Colo. School of Mines
Colo. School of Mines
3
Adams State
Adams State
4
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
5
Lee (Tenn.)
Lee (Tenn.)
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
We’re one step closer to figuring out what No. 1 Wingate has this season. In two days, the Bulldogs will debut at the Paul Short Run. Bookmark it. Last year, the 2023 NCAA DII Champions took home the College Gold Division title, besting a 44-team field by 65 points. For now, Wingate remains on the throne. Things got a little dicey below them however, as their fellow top-five programs clashed in dramatic fashion at the Lucian Rosa Invitational.
For those that missed it, eight ranked teams lined up at the start in Kenosha, Wisconsin. No. 2 Colo. School of Mines emerged victorious, but not without a challenge. The Orediggers had to fight tooth and nail against their Colorado compatriots, No. 3 Adams State, who fell short by seven points.
The individual battles were a set of headlines in themself.
Paul Knight and Kidus Begashaw were separated by less than two seconds, finishing third and fourth. Ethan Grolnic crossed the line sixth, with two Grizzlies, Julian Campos and Danyom Yosief, ten seconds back in ninth and tenth. The Orediggers saw their own pair, Braden Struhs and Jeremiah Vaille, go 13th and 14th, Jack Gumm bearing down on them in 15th.
Four runners in each. Score neck and neck at 36-38. Down to the wire, Colo. School of Mines delivered as Max Bonenberger and Dawson Gunn went 16th and 17th to seal the deal.
Overshadowed by everything else that transpired at the pre-national meet, Lee (Tenn.) posted a great performance of its own. The Flames were leaps and bounds ahead of anyone not named Colo. School of Mines or Adams State, beating No. 10 Saginaw Valley State, by 71 points, and No. 12 UC-Colorado Springs by 90 points. Not to mention, the new No. 5 was missing Ryan Lovelace, one of their veteran contributors. Even without him, the Flames averaged 37 seconds faster than the Mountain Lions. This marks their highest ranking since 2022.
On opposite ends of the country No. 14 Western Washington and No. 23 Walsh went to work. The Vikings grabbed a win at the Bill Roe Invitational, while the Cavaliers settled for second at the Lock Haven Invitational, defeating No. 30 Davis & Elkins. Both WWU and Walsh moved up two spots.
No. 6 Colorado Christian, No. 7 Chico State, No. 8 Western Colorado, No. 9 Northwest Missouri, and No. 10 Saginaw Valley State round out the top-ten teams.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 22, because that’s when the 2025 NCAA DII Cross Country Championships will be held at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
