MIAMI (Oct. 18) — In an unprecedented achievement, Northern Arizona University’s men’s and women’s cross country teams have both secured the No. 1 spots in the USTFCCCA National Coaches’ Poll. According to the NAU release, This marks the first occasion since Oregon’s dual top rankings on September 30, 2008, that a single institution has dominated both the men’s and women’s national polls.
USTFCCCA Ranking Highlights
- NAU men’s and women’s cross country teams secure No. 1 spots in USTFCCCA National Coaches’ Polls.
- Men’s team excels at Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational despite challenging weather conditions.
- California Baptist and Harvard men’s teams make significant leaps in the rankings.
- Furman, Princeton, and New Mexico also show notable improvements.
- 2023 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships scheduled for November 18.
A Meteoric Rise
The NAU men’s team, already a powerhouse in the sport, has maintained its No. 1 ranking, according to the most recent USTFCCCA poll. The team’s performance at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational was a key factor, where they faced challenging weather conditions including persistent rain and winds of 15 mph.
Read more: Northern Arizona men dominates 2023 Nuttycombe Invitational; results, team scores
The top-10 teams at the conclusion of the meet were Northern Arizona, BYU, Syracuse, California Baptist, Texas, Harvard, Colorado, Villanova, and Furman.
Click Here For Complete Men’s Rankings
Northern Arizona Women’s Team Not Far Behind
The NAU women’s team wasn’t to be outdone. They too have risen to the top of the national rankings, marking a significant milestone for the university’s athletic program.
The women’s team has shown consistent performance, contributing to their No. 1 spot in the USTFCCCA National Coaches’ Poll.
This week, the Lumberjacks replaced reigning national champion NC State at the summit of the Week 4 rankings. At No. 3 is Georgetown, which skipped the top-10, which BYU moved up two places to No. 4 after a promising win at the XC23 Pre-Nationals Invitational last weekend.
Big 12 powerhouse Oklahoma State moved down three spots to No. 6 to make way for the teams that are active.
Click Here For Complete Women’s Rankings
Other Notable Ranking Performances
California Baptist University (CBU) has seen a significant rise in rankings, now sitting at No. 5 for the men’s team.
Harvard’s men’s team also made headlines, holding the seventh-best billing among all NCAA DI programs, a first for the Ivy League school since at least 1995.
Furman University surprised many by finishing tenth in the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, propelling them to their best rank since two years ago.
Read more news: Northern Arizona dominates Nuttycombe Invitational, Valby beats Tuohy in women’s 6k
Princeton and New Mexico also had notable improvements, moving up to No. 15 and No. 18, respectively.
Looking Ahead To The National Championships
The 2023 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships are set to take place on Saturday, November 18, at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Virginia. With NAU’s men’s and women’s teams expecting to be leading the pack, the championships promise to be a highly competitive event.
Information by Courtney Vondracek, NAU Athletic Communications
