2025 NCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 5
NEW ORLEANS – What an incredible weekend of racing!
The Lewis Crossover Cross Country meet provided a great opportunity for many teams to battle in a national calibre field before the postseason begins. The championship season is right around the corner with conference championships next weekend.
Here is the newest edition of the NCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, as released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). All USTFCCCA polls and rankings are presented by AthleticNET.
NCAA Division II — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Colo. School of Mines
Colo. School of Mines
2
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
3
West Texas A&M
West Texas A&M
4
Adams State
Adams State
5
Cedarville
Cedarville
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Most of the top five nationally ranked teams rested their best runners this week in preparation for the championship season – and thus, maintained their spots. No. 1 Colo. School of Mines, which hauled in five of eight first-place votes, raced No. 4 Adams State at the FHSU Tiger Open, and finished first and second, respectively. No. 5 Cedarville dominated the UAH Charger XC Invitational with a near perfect score of 18. The Yellow Jackets are part of the top five alongside No. 2 Grand Valley State (two FPV) and No. 3 West Texas A&M (one FPV).
The Lewis Crossover shook up the National Coaches’ Poll with a stacked field of nationally ranked teams challenging for the title. Chico State emerged victorious with a 40 point margin in front of runner-up Lewis and soared six spots from No. 15 to No. 9. The Wildcats activated Iriesh Molina after removing her redshirt, and she made an impact as the team’s front runner. She was supported by strong efforts from junior Megan Malloy (eleventh), and freshman Paulina Martins (17th). Host Lewis, now ranked tenth, finished runner-up to Chico State. The Flyers had a tight pack of three runners in the top 12 with Mary Edwards (seventh), Josephine Bober (eighth), and Madilyn Calloway (12th).
The greatest rises in the National Coaches Poll can all be credited to performances at the Lewis Crossover. No. 13 Biola (Calif.) was receiving votes last week and jumped into the top 15 after a surprise third-place finish. Bethany Mapes led the Eagles to third with her individual sixth place finish. Colorado Mesa experienced a meteoric rise up 14 positions from No. 28 to No. 14 after its fourth place finish in Illinois. The duo of senior Megan Hodges (13th) and freshman debutant Daisy Lalonde (20th) worked together to pace the Mavericks.
The Royals Cross Country Challenge saw No. 15 Northern Michigan take the title narrowly over No. 17 Catawba, 39-47. Both the Huskies and the Indians saw improvements in their rankings following this duel – NMU from No. 16 to No. 15; Catawba from No. 19 to No. 17.
Both No. 21 Western Washington and No. 28 Alaska Anchorage cracked the National Coaches’ Poll after strong performances for sixth and ninth place, respectively, at the Lewis Crossover. This is the Seawolves’ first time making the National Coaches Poll this season.
Four teams received votes this week, including Fort Hays State, Palm Beach Atlantic, Flagler, and Minnesota Duluth.
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.
