Cougars continue to climb national polls

PROVO, Utah – BYU men’s cross country continues to climb in the national rankings, moving up one spot to No. 3 in the National Coaches’ Poll announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Cougars took the third position following their commanding victory at the West Coast Conference Championships last Saturday. The ranking is the highest for BYU since Oct. 2, 2012, when it was also ranked No. 3.

The Cougars also find themselves ranked No. 2 in the Mountain Region as part of the final regional rankings of the season. BYU trails two-time defending national champion Colorado – currently the nation’s unanimous No. 1 – in the region. The two schools will square off at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships on Friday, Nov. 13, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The NCAA Championships will be held one week later on Saturday, Nov. 21, in Louisville, Kentucky. To compete as one of the 31 qualifying teams at the national meet, BYU must finish as one of the top two teams at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships to ensure an automatic bid. The top two teams in each of the nine regions across the country automatically qualify to run at the NCAA Championships. Otherwise, the Cougars must hope to be selected for one of the 13 available at-large bids that round out the 31-team field. At this time, BYU looks to be in good position in either case to contend for a national title as it aims to compete at nationals for a 17th consecutive season.

Click here to view the full national rankings.

Click here to view the full regional rankings.