2024 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 3
NEW ORLEANS – What. A. Weekend.
For the second week in a row, cross country fans were blessed with another slate of championship-level racing across the Midwest, causing monumental changes throughout the Week 3 edition of the 2024 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, which was released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
National Coaches’ Polls are presented by AthleticNET.
NCAA Division I — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona
2
BYU
BYU
3
Washington
Washington
4
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
5
NC State
NC State
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Northern Arizona sits alone atop the National Coaches’ Poll after an upset-filled weekend of racing across the nation. The Lumberjacks handled business in a big way, capturing the team title at the Joe Piane Invitational. NAU flexed its muscles, fending off the now second-ranked BYU Cougars, 52-65. The Lumberjacks were led by sophomore Karrie Baloga, who clocked 16:16 to finish seventh in the 5k race. Maggi Congdon and four other ‘Jacks finished 9-11-12-13-17, as NAU put their first six runners in front of BYU’s fourth runner.
BYU held its own against the 2023 national runner-ups, enough for it to jump from No. 5 to No. 2. Four-time All-American Lexy Halladay-Lowry thrived as Cougars’ frontrunner, winning the individual title in 15:57 to help solidify the team’s runner-up finish in South Bend, Indiana.
Washington moved up to No. 3, improving for the second week in a row as they swapped places with No. 4 Notre Dame following the Irish’ third-place finish at the Joe Piane Invitational. Although it ultimately settled for third, the Irish finished just five points back of BYU.
Former No. 1 and three-time national champion NC State rounds out the top-5 at No. 5. The Wolfpack came up short at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, losing to Alabama, 57-71. Despite having four runners inside the top-20, the Crimson Tide’s 1-3-5 finish from Doris Lemngole, Brenda Tuwei, and Pheline Cheruto proved too much for NC State to overcome. Alabama climbed from No. 15 to No. 7 following its victory in Chicago.
The Golden Gophers of Minnesota finally found their way into the top-25 after a big-time performance in the Windy City, where they finished third behind Alabama and NC State, and ahead of previously-ranked Texas. West Virginia was the other big mover in Week 3 thanks to its dominant win at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic in Louisville, Kentucky.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 23, because that’s when the 2024 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships will be held at Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisconsin.
