Colorado leads a top three that probably will unveil their top seven in two weeks.

Published by Adam Schneider on September 14, 2015

Early in this season we are seeing a few meets that will include top runners but mostly coaches are getting a chance to see runners that could possibly run in the top seven. (previous week's ranking)

Previous team rankings:

Pre-Season |  Week 1

1.  Colorado - Sophomore Zach Perrin (14:43) won the CSU duals and led a group of Buffs looking to end up in the top seven at the end of year including unattached John Dressel (2nd in 14:51). Next race is Rocky Mountain Shootout on October 3.   (1)

2.  Stanford used the short course (6000m) Fresno State Invitational as an ice-breaker and sophomore Thomas Coyle ran well (6th along with Joe Rosa). The next meet for the Cardinal is the Stanford Invitational on September 26. (2)

3.  Oklahoma State sophomore Cerake Gebrekidane led the Cowboys on August 30 at the Cowboy preview and showed their great depth. Oklahoma State will host the Cowboy Jamboree on September 26th for the Cowboy’s next meet     (3)

4.  Iona’s Xavier King (18:53.1 for 6000m) led Iona (27-29 over Marist) at the Marist Opener. Next is the Bryan Doyle Meet of Champions at home on September 19th.  (4)

5. Syracuse Syracuse and Michigan ran without #1s (Syracuse ran without three of their top four) and Michigan won at Harry Groves Spiked Shoe (8400m) 35-42. Next race is the Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown on September 25th.  (5)

6.  Oregon dominated the Bill Dillinger Invitational with a solid group of five in front led by Edward Cheserek (24:26.0) as they finished in a pack. Next for the Ducks is the Washington Invitational on October 2nd.  (6)

7.  Michigan won Harry Groves Spiked Shoe (missing two of top three) after dominating the EMU Celebration 5k. Next race is the Greater Louisville Classic on October 3.       (7)

8.  Wisconsin Coach Mick Byrne used the Badger Opener to test young runners and won 44 to 49 for Loyola as junior Russell Sandvold led Wisconsin in third (19:02.8) over the 6000m course. Next for the Badgers is the Iona College Meet of Champions on September 19th. (8)

9.  Villanova used none of their top seven at Big 5 and finished fifth. Their next race is the Main Line Invitational on September 18th. (9)

10. Mississippi did not use any of their top runners at the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic. Their next race is the Commodore Classic on September 19th. (10)

11. Northern Arizona introduced sophomore transfer Cory Glines as a Lumberjack and he beat regular Alejandro Maldonado at the George Kyte Classic as they dominated competition (perfect score of 15) among Arizona schools. Their next race is the Dave Murray Invitational on September 18th. (11)

12. Virginia swept the UVA duals as Henry Wynne got off to a great season start and led the Cavaliers. Next is Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational on September 26.    (12)

13. Indiana Owen Skeet won the Indiana Open 8000m in 25:48.41. Next is the Indiana Intercollegiates on September 18th. (13)

14. UCLA competed at the Nevada Twilight Classic with runners competing for a top seven spot. UCLA competes next at the Mustang Challenge on September 19th.  (14)

15. Eastern Kentucky has won their first two meets in Kentucky (Kentucky Bluegrass this week) and freshman Alex Rotich was the Ohio Valley runner of the week (and looks like a replacement for last year’s #1, Ole Hesselbjerg) the first meet and will likely repeat the award this week. With new runners and fewer injuries so far compared to last year this team could move back into the top 20 at the NCAA meet (23rd in 2014 and 15th in 2013). Their next race is the Virginia Panorama Farms Invitational on September 26th. (unr)

16. Georgetown was second at the Navy Invitational after they used none of their top six. Next for the Hoyas is the Paul Short Run on October 2nd.  (15)

17.  BYU dominated the BYU Autumn Classic (15) with freshman Dallin Farnsworth beating NCAA veteran Aaron Fletcher at the finish.  Next is the WCC Preview on September 19th in Spokane.  (16)

18. Portland won the Lewis and Clark Invitational with runners looking for a top seven spot and the same group was third at Ash Creek. Their next race is the UW Invitational on October 2nd.   (17)

19. Washington won the season opening UW-Seattle Open and took eight of the first eleven spots on the 4.5 mile course with Andrew Gardner getting the victory. Next is the Sundodger Invitational on September 19th.   (18)

20. UTEP’s six runners dominated the 6000m race and ran as a pack at the Texas Tech/NM State dual and the same six repeated the feat at The Lori Fitzgerald Classic. Next for the Miners is Kachina Classic on September 19th. (19)

Of Interest

Furman took the top ten spots at the Queens Twilight using runners competing for a lower top seven spot and then dominated the Furman Cross Country Classic (16 to 46 over Auburn).  Next for Furman is the Virginia Panorama Farms Invitational on September 26th. (20)

Louisville won the Evansville Early Bird Opener with many of the Cardinals running easily. Their next race is the Vanderbilt Invitational on September 19th.

Arkansas ran at the Cowboy Preview and gave some of their younger runners some experience.  Next for the Razorbacks is the Iona Meet of Champions on September 19th.

Georgia was sixth after taking none of their top seven to the Furman Cross Country Invitational. They ran as a pack and finished 2-7 at Struts cross country season opener to dominate. Their next race is the Coast-to-Coast Battle In Beantown on September 25th.

Men cross-country rankings