Final Week of DI Cross Country Regular Season: What to Expect

As the final weekend of the DI cross country regular season approaches, here’s what you need to know about the key teams and races.

Men’s Rankings
Defending champions Oklahoma State hold the top spot, but BYU is close behind with one first-place vote. Completing the top five are Arkansas (No. 3), Iowa State (No. 4), and Notre Dame (No. 5).

Women’s Rankings
Northern Arizona leads the women’s rankings with nine first-place votes, followed by BYU, Washington, and Notre Dame. NC State, the three-time defending national champions, is ranked No. 5 after a recent loss at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational.

Key Invitationals to Watch
Top races this weekend include Oklahoma State’s men running at the Weis-Crockett Invitational, while standout women’s runners from Alabama and Clemson will compete at the Crimson Classic. The weekend’s marquee event is the DI Pre-Nationals in Wisconsin, featuring teams like Arkansas, Iowa State, and Stanford, as well as individual standouts like defending champion Graham Blanks and runner-up Habtom Samuel.

Pre-Nationals Spotlight
Wisconsin’s Thomas Zimmer Course will host the Pre-Nationals, featuring elite men’s and women’s teams and top individuals such as Ceili McCabe (West Virginia) and Hilda Olemomoi (Florida), setting the stage for the upcoming championship season.