2017 NCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll — Week 6
NEW ORLEANS – Conference Championship weekend at the NCAA Division II level didn’t directly affect the top-three teams in the Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, but the rest of the top-10 got a makeover.
Alaska Anchorage, Chico State, Pittsburg State, U-Mary and Hillsdale all saw a boost in the top-10 of the rankings that were released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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The Seawolves of Alaska Anchorage saw the biggest climb in the polls, moving up four spots to fourth after dominating the GNAC Championships. Carolina Kurgat wrecked the competition in Bellingham, Washington, winning with a time of 20:49.5 to help her squad upset Simon Fraser, who dropped down to ninth in the rankings.
Chico State captured its 10th-straight CCAA Championship with Hannah Dorman (20:50.2) winning the individual title. The one-spot leap to fifth place brings the Wildcats back into the top-five for the first time since coming in fourth during week one of the polls.
After entering the rankings for the first time on the season just three polls ago, Pittsburg State continued its climb, winning the MIAA Conference Championship, thanks to a first-place finish from sophomore Piper Misse (22:19.6). The Gorillas moved up to sixth after three-consecutive weeks in seventh, marking the highest ranking for the program since placing fourth during week two of the 2001 campaign.
U-Mary returned to the top-top a week ago, but managed to move up another three spots to seventh this week after coming off a win at the NSIC Championships that saw five of its runners finish in the top-10. Alexis Zeis (20:49.5) took home the individual title in that meet.
Hillsdale, who was tied with U-Mary for 10th last week, saw a two-spot rise to 10th after winning the GMAC league championship.
Despite all of the shakeup, Cal Baptist, Grand Valley State and Adams State held onto their spots of first, second and third, respectively.
Cal Baptist kept its undefeated season in tact with a victory at the PacWest Championship, while GVSU (GLIAC) and Adams State (RMAC) also captured league championships.
Three teams outside of the top-10 saw five-spot jumps in Dallas Baptist (13th), Minnesota Duluth (t-17th) and UC-Colorado Springs (19th). Colorado Mines (11th) and Oklahoma Baptist (14th) each moved up two spots from a week ago.
Returning to the top-25 this week were Southern Indiana (23rd) and Malone (t-25th).
