2021 NCAA DIII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 4

NEW ORLEANS – High-caliber racing means changes.

Here is the newest edition of the NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll for Week 4 of the 2021 season, as released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA). Only eight of the top-35 programs from Week 3 remained in place after an awe-inspiring weekend of competition across the nation.

NCAA Division III — Women's Cross Country

This Week's National Top Five

1
Johns Hopkins

2
Wartburg

3
Washington (Mo.)

4
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

5
Chicago

Cross Country Polls & Rankings

NATIONAL POLL

REGIONAL RANKINGS

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Nothing changed at the top of the National Coaches’ Poll, as Johns Hopkins and Wartburg cemented themselves at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. The still unanimous Blue Jays held their own in the Women’s 5k CC Gold at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic, finishing 10th in the team standings in front of strong NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II programs. The Knights, on the other hand, needed a tiebreaker to beat Washington (Mo.) at the Dan Huston Invitational.

Speaking of the Bears, they jumped three spots from No. 6 to No. 3 after that sterling effort against Wartburg. WashU had stronger depth across the board than the Knights, as they went 3-5-6-7-9 compared to Wartburg’s 1-2-4-10-13, yet the 3-2 edge went to the host.

Dickinson improved one spot from No. 8 to No. 7 following its performance at the Paul Short Run this past weekend. The Red Devils finished a clear runner-up to NCAA Division I Miami (Fla.) in the Women’s College Brown 6k. Isabel Cardi and Elaina Clancy finished 1-2 overall with Cardi nearly seven seconds ahead of her teammate for the victory.

Now, we’re at the fun part.

Eleven of the next 14 teams shifted two or more spots since Week 3.

• UW-La Crosse jumped from No. 14 to No. 8 thanks to a runner-up finish at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic
• SUNY Geneseo climbed three spots from No. 13 to No. 10 after winning the Mike Woods Invitational
• Calvin charged five spots from No. 16 to No. 11 after a third-place finish in at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic
• MIT and Bates fell five and four spots to t-No. 12 and No. 14, respectively
• Emory soared seven spots from No. 21 to No. 14 thanks to a fourth-place finish at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic
• Hope improved two spots from No. 18 to No. 15 after holding its own in the NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II-heavy Gold race at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic
• Carnegie Mellon upgraded six spots from No. 23 to t-No. 17 after a strong effort at the Paul Short Run
• John Carroll climbed five spots from No. 24 to No. 19 following a breakthrough performance at the Paul Short Run
• UW-Eau Claire moved up two spots from No. 22 to No. 20 after winning the Blugold Invitational in a tiebreaker over former No. 17 Carleton (The Knights are now No. 21)
• Middlebury dropped eight spots from No. 15 to No. 23

Get it? Got it? Good.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 20, because that’s when the 2021 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships will be held at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park in Louisville, Kentucky.