2024 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 4
NEW ORLEANS – Change is in the air.
Here is the newest edition of the 2024 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, which was released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
National Coaches’ Polls are presented by AthleticNET.
NCAA Division II — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Wingate
Wingate
2
West Texas A&M
West Texas A&M
3
Colo. School of Mines
Colo. School of Mines
4
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
5
Western Colorado
Western Colorado
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Wingate proved that it’s the No.1 team in the nation this past weekend. After a month of inactivity, the Bulldogs silenced any doubters at the Paul Short Run, torching a talented field in the Men’s College Gold 8k by 65 points. Mind you, that field included NCAA DI No. 20 Harvard. It simply wasn’t fair with a 27-second spread an a 23:34 average time on a notoriously challenging course.
No. 2 West Texas A&M yielded similar results at the Live in Lou Classic this past weekend. The Buffs startled NCAA DI No. 14 Michigan with a near upset in the Gold Race, falling short by a mere two points. WTAMU went 1-3 with William Amponsah and Dennis Cheruiyot in those respective places. The Buffs have yet to add 1500-meter champion Aziz Mohamed to the lineup, so that would give them yet another low stick.
In the wake of recent changes, Colo. School of Mines dropped to No. 3. Hot on the Orediggers’ trail is No. 4 Grand Valley State. The Lakers stepped up at the Joe Piane Invitational, racing the likes of NCAA DI No. 5 Notre Dame and NCAA DI No. 6 Northern Arizona, as well as division rival Adams State. GVSU earned the label of top NCAA DII finisher in eighth place, right ahead of the Grizzlies.
Four programs improved four spots since Week 3: Lee (Tenn.) went from No. 12 to No. 8 after a third-place finish at the Live in the Lou Classic; Northwest Missouri went from No. 17 to No. 13 after winning the Griffin Invitational; Cal Poly Pomona went from No. 23 to No. 19 after finishing runner-up at the DBU Old Glory Gallup; and Azusa Pacific went from No. 28 to No. 24.
All eyes now turn to the Lewis Crossover, which will be held on the same course as the NCAA DII Midwest Region Championships. The meet will feature 14 nationally ranked squads – three being in the top-ten, including a possible showdown between top athletes from Colo. School of Mines and Grand Valley State.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 23, because that’s when the 2024 NCAA DII Cross Country Championships will be held at the Arcade Creek Cross Country Course in Sacramento, California.
