2025 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 2

NEW ORLEANS – Week 2 sees big movement in the National Coaches’ Poll.

Many of the nation’s top programs competed this past weekend at the Gans Creek Classic in Missouri, Columbia, which served as an early course preview for upcoming NCAA DI Cross Country Championships in November. The rankings this week are reflective of who shined the brightest this weekend in Missouri and across the nation.

Keep reading to find out more about the newest edition of the 2025 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, which was released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The poll is conducted by taking votes from a group of 11 coaches, including one coach from each of Division I’s nine regions and two from the NCAA Cross Country Executive Committee.

USTFCCCA Polls and Rankings are presented by AthleticNET.

BYU remains at the top of the poll as it placed first at the Cowboy Jamboree this past weekend, taking down No. 5 New Mexico and No. 9 Oklahoma State. The Cougars, who captured all 11 first-place votes from the electorate, averaged 20:30 for 6k on a difficult course in Stillwater, Oklahoma, without the help of junior Jenna Hutchins and high school phenom Jane Hedengren.

NC State moves into the second position this week after a strong showing at the adidas XC Challenge in Cary, North Carolina. The Wolfpack went 1-2-3 and averaged 16:38 for 5k to take the team title over No. 18 North Carolina and a South Carolina squad that is receiving votes. NC State is still waiting for All-American and Southeast Region champion Grace Hartman to open her season.

The big riser of the week is Florida which surge nine spots from No. 12 to No. 3. The Gators captured the Gans Creek Classic title led by a 7-8-9 finish from Judy Chepkoech, Tia Wilson, and Hilda Olemomoi. The Gainesville-based harriers averaged 19:40 over 6k and took down No. 4 Oregon, No. 6 Northern Arizona, No. 12 Colorado, No. 16 Virginia, and No. 17 Utah, among other ranked teams in the process. 

Oregon moves down two spots into fourth position this week, following a sixth-place finish at Gans Creek. The Ducks averaged 20:08 for 6k and fell just two points short of No. 17 Utah in fifth place. While they were missing All-American Silan Ayyildiz and Mia Barnett, Julie Cherubet was active and blazed through the course in 19:20, good for fifth overall. 

New Mexico, like the Ducks, fall two positions this week. The Lobos, who are now ranked fifth, placed third this past weekend at the Cowboy Jamboree. New Mexico finished just eight points behind runner-up Oklahoma State and was missing two-time NCAA champion Pamela Kosgei, as well as potential scorers Natalie Bitetti and Judy Rono. The Lobos averaged 20:47 for 6k. 

No. 6 Northern Arizona, No. 7 Providence, No. 8 Stanford, No. 9 Oklahoma State, and No. 10 Notre Dame round out the rest of the top-ten teams. No. 24 Missouri, No. 25 Wake Forest, No. 27 Washington State, No. 28 Tennessee, and No. 30 Tulane are newcomers to poll, all having received votes last week.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 22, because that’s when the 2025 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships will be held at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri.