USTFCCCA

NEW ORLEANS – Colorado College is a force. 

The Tigers jump 16 places to take over No. 1 in Week 2 of the 2024 NCAA DIII Women’s Cross Country National Poll, which was released Wednesday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA). That marks the biggest rise to No. 1 in the entire history of the National Coaches’ Polls, regardless of division.

National Coaches’ Polls are presented by AthleticNET.

Colorado College posted a stunning third-place team finish at the John McNichols Invitational. The Tigers, who were the top NCAA DIII squad behind NCAA DI programs Michigan and Indiana State, finished ahead of both No. 2 UChicago and former No. 1 NYU. Colorado College was led by senior Isabel Olson’s 13th place individual finish, running the 6k course in a time of 21:35. Looking ahead, the Tigers will be hosting the Ted Castaneda Classic on October 5. 

UChicago remains in the No. 2 spot for third week in a row. The Maroons finished just eight points behind Colorado College at the John McNichols Invitational. Senior Evelyn Battleson-Gunkel continues to impress, with her finishing fourth individually in a time of 21:07. UChicago and Colorado College will meet again at the Augustana Invitational on October 19. 

NYU is still in the top-3 in Week 2. The Violets placed fifth at the John McNichols Invitational, 17 points behind the Tigers and nine points behind the Maroons. NYU will travel down to Bethlehem, Pa. on October 5 for the Paul Short Invitational. 

MIT and SUNY Geneseo tie for the No. 4 spot in Week 2. The Engineers sat idle, while the Knights won the team title at the Yellowjacket Invitational with 32 points. Penelope Greene paced SUNY Geneseo with the individual title and was one of four Knights in the top-10.

No. 6 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, No. 7 Johns Hopkins, No. 8 Emory, No. 9 Calvin, and No. 10 Washington (Mo.) round out the top-10. Calvin improved 11 places from No. 20 to No. 9 after a superb eighth-place team finish at the John McNichols Invitational. 

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 23! The 2024 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Gwyneth E. Young is a junior at Elizabethtown College majoring in Criminal Justice and Communications. Young, who is serving as a communications intern for the USTFCCCA this fall, competes for the Blue Jays in cross country and track & field.