Men’s National Poll |
Women’s National Poll
NEW ORLEANS (August 31, 2021) – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (
USTFCCCA) released their Preseason National Coaches’ Poll on Tuesday, which revealed the Northern Arizona men’s team will enter the season as the No. 1 team in the entire NCAA.
The defending national champions out of Flagstaff received 328 total votes on the men’s side, including 10 of the 11 available first-place votes. They sit 20 points ahead of Notre Dame. Brigham Young, Oregon and Stanford round out the top-5 in the men’s poll.
The Big Sky Conference has two representatives in the men’s poll, as Southern Utah has been picked as the No. 24 team in the NCAA heading into the season. The Thunderbirds finished the most recent National Championship meet in ninth and received 71 points via votes.
Northern Arizona’s women’s squad will also enter the season with high expectations, as they’ve been slotted the No. 12 team in the NCAA heading into the upcoming campaign. The Lumberjacks finished 11
th at last season’s championship meet.
Both of NAU’s squads were selected as the preseason favorites in the Big Sky. The NAU women and SUU men enter the 2021 campaign as the reigning Big Sky Champions.
The NCAA cross country seasons officially begin this weekend, with all 11 teams in the Big Sky Conference set to compete.
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