2023 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 1
NEW ORLEANS – Here is the newest edition of the NCAA Division II Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll for the 2023 season, as released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday afternoon.
Remember that this poll is conducted by counting votes from eight member coaches – one from each of the division’s eight regions – who also do the Regional Rankings.
NCAA Division II — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Colo. School of Mines
Colo. School of Mines
2
Adams State
Adams State
3
Wingate
Wingate
4
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
5
Chico State
Chico State
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Colorado School of Mines was the unanimous choice for the No. 1 spot, garnering all eight votes. The Orediggers open their season in earnest at the Roadrunners Invitational on Saturday. Adams State held steady at No. 2, following a 19-point victory at the Joe I. Vigil Open, where Awet Beraki ran away with the individual title.
No. 3 Wingate, No. 4 Grand Valley State, and No. 5 Chico State remained stagnant despite an array of split votes. No. 7 Lee (Tenn.) leapfrogged No. 8 Augustana (S.D.) after a close battle with NCAA DI Tennessee at the Tennessee Cross Country Invitational. The Flames fell by just seven points on the hilly 6.5k Knoxville course as Aaron Himes led the charge against athletes from three NCAA DI opponents.
UC-Colorado Springs advanced four spots in the rankings to seize No. 21, while Anderson (S.C.) climbed three spots to capture No. 26. Gavin Harden led the Mountain Lions to a routine victory at the UCCS XC Rust Buster.
No. 11 Saginaw Valley State, No. 14 Illinois-Springfield, No. 17 Michigan Tech, and No. 20 Missouri Southern also improved their billing in Week 1.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 18th, as the 2023 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships will take place at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in Joplin, Missouri!
