2025 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll Week 3 Highlights by USTFCCCA

NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country Rankings: BYU Retains Top Position in Week 3

New Orleans – The latest NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll has been released, showcasing the top-performing teams after Week 3 of the season. The poll, managed by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), is compiled from votes cast by 11 coaches representing nine regions of NCAA Division I and two members from the NCAA Cross Country Executive Committee.

Top Five Teams in NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country

This week’s poll sees a familiar face at the top, with BYU leading the rankings for the fourth consecutive time. The Cougars maintain their position as the unanimous favorite, having secured all first-place votes without competing this week. Their previous showing at the Cowboy Jamboree featured a victory over then-No. 5 New Mexico and No. 9 Oklahoma State.

Here’s a closer look at the current top five teams:

• 1. BYU
• 2. NC State
• 3. Florida
• 4. Oregon
• 5. New Mexico

NC State’s Rising Performance in Cross Country

NC State solidified its second-place ranking with a stellar performance at the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational in Chicago, where the Wolfpack claimed the team title with a remarkable score of 34 points and an average finishing time of 19:47 for 6K. The standout runners, Hannah Gapes and Bethany Michalak, delivered a 1-2 finish, clocking times of 19:19 and 19:34, respectively. Notably, NC State demonstrated depth by placing four runners in the top ten, achieving a commendable 1-5 spread of just 42 seconds. This sets the stage for a thrilling matchup at the upcoming Nuttycombe Invitational on October 17 in Wisconsin, where BYU will face a strong challenger in NC State.

Florida, Oregon, and New Mexico Maintain Strong Rankings

Florida holds steady at third place, following a strong showing at the Gan Greek Classic. Although they did not compete this week, they are set to compete at the Pre-National Invitational in Columbia, Missouri, creating anticipation for potential battles among the top teams.

Oregon and New Mexico round out the top five, both opting for a week off from competition. Meanwhile, Notre Dame has climbed three spots to seventh after an impressive home performance at the Joe Piane Invitational, where they averaged 16:06 for 5K with a minimal 20-second spread among their top five finishers. Sophomore Mary Bonner Dalton secured the individual title with a time of 15:53, leading her team to a total score of just 29 points.

Complete Rankings from Sixth to Tenth

The teams ranked from six to ten are:

• 6. Northern Arizona
• 7. Notre Dame
• 8. Oklahoma State
• 9. West Virginia
• 10. Colorado

New Entries in the Rankings

This week’s poll also sees new teams breaking into the top 26, including:

• 19. Villanova
• 20. Gonzaga
• 26. South Carolina

Mark your calendars for October 17 and 18, as both the Nuttycombe Invitational and Pre-Nationals promise exciting races that may reshape the current standings in NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country.