DI Final Regular-Season National Poll Holds to Oklahoma State, Florida State

NEW ORLEANS — The NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships will be held this Saturday, and, looking at the final regular-season coaches’ poll conducted by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), there’s definitely a lot to be excited about. Oklahoma State’s men and Florida State’s women held on to their No. 1 spot gained prior to last Friday’s NCAA Regional Championships.

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In the men’s poll – the No. 1 Cowboys, with nine of 12 first-place votes – are looking to build upon their fifth-straight Midwest region title and capture their third national crown in four years.

Stanford and Iona are tied at the No. 2 spot with the Cardinal taking one FPV. Stanford took the West region for the second-straight year and will look to be atop the NCAA podium for the first time since 2003. Iona was ninth a year ago but was the nation’s runner-up in 2007 and 2008.

No. 4 Wisconsin is the reigning national champion and is extending their national record to 41-straight appearances in the NCAA meet. The Badgers claimed their 14th-straight Great Lakes region title on Friday.

Texas’ men at No. 5 have reached their all-time high position in the coaches’ poll. They are looking for their third “trophy-finish” (top four) in team history and to possibly improve upon their all-time best finish of third from 1956.

The voting panel had difficulty reaching a consensus with No. 7 Colorado as the Buffaloes claimed two first-place votes but dropped five positions overall in the poll. Colorado took third in the Mountain region behind No. 10 Northern Arizona and No. 8 BYU, but, a couple weeks earlier, won the Pac-12 over now-No. 2 Stanford. The Buffs, winners of three national men’s cross country crowns, last claimed the title in 2006.

More men’s notes:

• Of the 22 schools that have won DI men’s cross country titles, 11 are in the field including all-time leader Arkansas (11).
• Virginia Tech is making their first NCAA showing since 1987.
• Michigan State’s men earned an at-large bid to the NCAA XC Championships despite finishing seventh at the Big Ten meet. The Spartans placed fourth in the Great Lakes region.
• The ACC has the most men’s team selections for the meet with five. The Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12 follow with four.

The No. 1 Seminole women have never won the NCAA cross country title, but have finished as the runner-up in 2009 and 2010. They are coming off their fifth-straight South region title and gained ten of 12 first-place votes in the poll.

Oregon has the No. 2 spot and is looking for their first NCAA cross country crown since 1987. The Ducks are the three-time defending national indoor track & field champions.

No. 3 Iowa State is in the mix coming off their third-straight Midwest region title. The Cyclones finished seventh in last year’s meet and finished as the runner-up in 1985.

Stanford, at No. 4, has the most national titles (5) among teams in the top ten, having last claimed the top podium position in 2007 as part of a three-year sweep.

Defending women’s national champion Georgetown comes in as No. 11 squad. The Hoyas were ranked fourth going into last year’s championship before shocking the field for their first title.

Additional women’s notes:

• Connecticut (No. 14) is appearing in their first NCAA meet and has reached an all-time best poll ranking. Cornell (No. 16) is showing in the national meet for the first time since 2001 while fellow Ivy rival Harvard is in the big dance for the first time since 1983.
• The Big East and Pac-12 has five women’s teams at the NCAA meet, most among conferences. The Big Ten and SEC follow with four apiece.

Louisville will host the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships on Saturday at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park.   The women’s race is slated to begin at Noon, eastern, followed by the men’s at 1:15 p.m., eastern.

A live webcast of the championships will be broadcast on NCAA.com.

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