For the first time since the 2017 season, both of the Butler Cross Country teams are ranked inside the Top 20 of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Poll.
After four weeks into the season, two of which Butler has competed, the Grizzlies have moved inside the Top 20; Women ranked 12th with the Men coming in 19th.
"It feels good to have us nationally recognized in the cross country polls this season. Last year we weren't ranked at all, so it is nice, but we are not satisfied," said head Cross Country coach Dustin Mettler on the national rankings.
Coach Mettler has high hopes for this year's teams "I think the women have a chance of being a top ten team at the end of the season and I believe the guys have a chance to be a top 15 team, but the guys could easily be a dark horse and potentially have a top 10 finish at nationals."
After a week off from competition, the teams are back in action this Saturday in Joplin, MO competing in the Missouri Southern Stampede hosted by Missouri Southern State University. The women's race is scheduled for 8:00am followed by the men's race.
"Our team goal this weekend is improvement from our last meet," mentioned Mettler. "I would like to see more discipline throughout the race as well."
NJCAA Division I
Men's Cross Country
USTFCCCA National Coaches' Poll
2019 Week #1 - September 18th
| RANK | TEAM CONFERENCE |
2018 FINAL |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
CLOUD COUNTY (KAN.) CC Region VI |
6 | |
| 2 | 
|
CENTRAL ARIZONA Region I |
1 | |
| 3 | 
|
IOWA CENTRAL CC Region XI |
2 | |
| 4 | 
|
EL PASO CC Region V |
3 | |
| 5 | 
|
IOWA WESTERN CC ICCAC/Region XI |
--- | |
| 6 | 
|
TRINIDAD STATE (COLO.) JC Region IX |
11 | |
| 7 | 
|
HUTCHINSON (KAN.) CC Region VI |
7 | |
| 8 | 
|
ALLEN (KAN.) CC Region VI |
10 | |
| 9 | 
|
SOUTHERN IDAHO Region XVIII |
5 | |
| 10 | 
|
NORTH IOWA AREA CC Region XI |
25 | |
| 11 | 
|
LANSING (MICH.) CC Region XII |
16 | |
| 12 | 
|
MESA (ARIZ.) CC Region I |
14 | |
| 13 | 
|
NEW MEXICO JC |
--- | |
| 14 | 
|
CLEVELAND STATE |
--- | |
| 15 | 
|
COLBY (KAN.) CC Region VI |
8 | |
| 16 | 
|
RANGER (TEXAS) Region V |
13 | |
| 17 | 
|
HAWKEYE (IOWA) CC Region XI |
19 | |
| 18 | 
|
HIGHLAND (KAN.) CC Region VI |
18 | |
| 19 | 
|
LOUISBURG (N.C.) Region X |
12 | |
| 19 | 
|
BUTLER (KAN.) CC Region VI |
29 | |
| 21 | 
|
MONROE (N.Y.) Region XV |
30 | |
| 22 | 
|
COWLEY (KAN.) Region VI |
17 | |
| 23 | 
|
VINCENNES (IND.) Region XXIV |
23 | |
| 23 | 
|
HAGERSTOWN (MD.) CC Region XX |
--- | |
| 25 | 
|
INDIAN HILLS (IOWA) CC Region XI |
15 |
