2021 NCAA DIII Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 3

NEW ORLEANS – Get ready for liftoff.

Here is the newest edition of the NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, as released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). A total of 24 different programs shifted spots since Week 2, including three of whom were ranked in the top-5 last week. That number is only going to increase after an upcoming weekend where a plethora of top-35 squads go up against each other.

NCAA Division III — Men's Cross Country

This Week's National Top Five

1
Wartburg

2
Pomona-Pitzer

3
Williams

4
SUNY Geneseo

5
MIT

Cross Country Polls & Rankings

NATIONAL POLL

REGIONAL RANKINGS

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Wartburg remained a consensus favorite to win the national title come Saturday, November 20, hauling in nine of 10 possible first-place votes. The Knights were idle this past weekend, but assembled a strong field for the Dan Huston Invitational this upcoming weekend.

The real fun in Week 3 began at the No. 2 spot, where Pomona-Pitzer had steadily gained on Williams and eventually overtook them, snatching away the outstanding first-place vote. Both the Ephs and the Sagehens competed – and won – this past weekend, yet it was Pomona-Pitzer making headlines with a victory at the Cougar Challenge over several top-10 NCAA DII teams. Not to be outdone, Williams topped three nationally-ranked NCAA DIII programs to capture the team title at the Purple Valley Classic in a close race against new No. 5 MIT, 29-32.

North Central (Ill.) continues its climb up the National Coaches’ Poll. The Cardinals, who were ranked as low as 20^th in the preseason, are now locked in a sixth-place tie with John Carroll.  The Cardinals recently rolled to the team title at the Gil Dodds Invitational, while the Blue Streaks made a statement at the All-Ohio Collegiate Cross Country Championships. You’ll see North Central (Ill.) – as well as eight other top-35 squads – at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic this upcoming weekend. JCU travels to Pennsylvania for the Paul Short Run.

Further down in the index, two programs jumped multiple spots: Middlebury from No. 31 to No. 27; UW-Oshkosh from No. 33 to No. 31. The Panthers, who will compete at the Mike Woods Invitational this upcoming weekend, finished third at the Purple Valley Classic behind Williams and MIT. The Titans, who will compete at the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational, along with three other top-35 squads, most recently ended up sixth at the Tom Hoffman Invitational.

Here are a few of the meets which will impact the National Coaches’ Poll next week: Brissman-Lundeen Invitational, Dan Huston Invitational, Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic and the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational. Those will take place on either Friday or Saturday.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 20, which is when the 2021 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships will be held at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park in Louisville, Kentucky.