University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Christopher Mitchell
Gopher Men Crack National Rankings, Women Remain No. 6
10/19/2021 1:29:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS -- Both sides of the University of Minnesota cross country program found their name among the USTFCCCA's National Coaches' Poll for the first time this season, with the women holding their previous ranking of No. 6 and the men jumping into No. 29, as was announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Tuesday afternoon.
The jump by the men's side came as a result of their performance at the Nuttycombe Invitational last weekend, where they finished 15th with 416 team points and ahead of five formerly nationally ranked programs. The women finished fourth in the same meet (188 points) behind a trio of Gophers finishing within the top-15 spots.
The men's appearance in Tuesday's poll is their first time cracking the national rankings this season, and also marks their first time receiving national votes since week two of the 2019 season. The women increased their streak of ranking within the top-10 to seven straight weeks, dating back to the end of the 2020-21 season.
Minnesota was one of only three Big Ten Conference schools to place a men's program within the national rankings this week, joining No. 10 Wisconsin and No. 15 Michigan. On the women's side, the Gophers were once again the highest ranked Big Ten team in the poll, leading No. 9 Michigan, No. 20 Michigan State, No. 22 Wisconsin, No. 25 Illinois, RV Indiana and RV Penn State.
Regionally, both sides of the program held their spots from the week four rankings, with the women atop the Midwest Region and the men in fourth. Ahead of the men in the Midwest rankings were No. 5 Oklahoma State, No. 2 Iowa State and No. 9 Tulsa, respectively, while the women led No. 7 Oklahoma State, No. 17 Iowa State and No. 25 Illinois, respectively.
Minnesota will host Jack's Twilight Run this Friday, Oct. 22, their first public meet of the season. Race time is slated for 5:00 p.m. at Les Bolstad Golf Course, and anyone wishing to compete can register through the link here or at the top of the page.
The jump by the men's side came as a result of their performance at the Nuttycombe Invitational last weekend, where they finished 15th with 416 team points and ahead of five formerly nationally ranked programs. The women finished fourth in the same meet (188 points) behind a trio of Gophers finishing within the top-15 spots.
The men's appearance in Tuesday's poll is their first time cracking the national rankings this season, and also marks their first time receiving national votes since week two of the 2019 season. The women increased their streak of ranking within the top-10 to seven straight weeks, dating back to the end of the 2020-21 season.
Minnesota was one of only three Big Ten Conference schools to place a men's program within the national rankings this week, joining No. 10 Wisconsin and No. 15 Michigan. On the women's side, the Gophers were once again the highest ranked Big Ten team in the poll, leading No. 9 Michigan, No. 20 Michigan State, No. 22 Wisconsin, No. 25 Illinois, RV Indiana and RV Penn State.
Regionally, both sides of the program held their spots from the week four rankings, with the women atop the Midwest Region and the men in fourth. Ahead of the men in the Midwest rankings were No. 5 Oklahoma State, No. 2 Iowa State and No. 9 Tulsa, respectively, while the women led No. 7 Oklahoma State, No. 17 Iowa State and No. 25 Illinois, respectively.
Minnesota will host Jack's Twilight Run this Friday, Oct. 22, their first public meet of the season. Race time is slated for 5:00 p.m. at Les Bolstad Golf Course, and anyone wishing to compete can register through the link here or at the top of the page.
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