NEW ORLEANS, La. — The Notre Dame men’s cross country team catapulted into the USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll following their record performance at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals Invitational. Finishing fifth of 34 teams, including nine of which were nationally ranked, the men’s team made their first appearance in the national rankings in the past six years. The women also jumped in the rankings, moving up four spots from 22nd the previous week, following their fourth place finish at the Invitational on Saturday.
“This is the first time the men have been ranked nationally since 2012,” assistant coach Sean Carlson said. “The men have really come together as a team this year and I’m excited to see where that team ends up at the conference and national meets.”
Ranked 15th in the nation, the men currently sit third in the Atlantic Coast Conference, behind Syracuse (10) and Virginia (14), heading into the ACC Championship meet next week.
“The men have had a great fall,” Hatherly-Piane Head Coach Matt Sparks said. “You can finally the see confidence and fitness match up into a positive result.”
The women moved up to 18th nationally, after spending the earlier part of the season moving between 22-23. Only ACC rival NC State currently ranks ahead of the Irish as they are 12th in the nation after week five. The ACC boast five women’s teams in the national poll, including NC State (12), Notre Dame (18), Georgia Tech (22), Syracuse (25) and Florida State (29).
“The women had a lot positive things happen as well,” Sparks added. “With Jessica Harris having a big break through for us in our 4th position we are feeling confident moving towards the ACC championship.”
The Irish will have a week off before heading out east for the 2018 ACC Championships. Hosted on the campus of Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, the meet is scheduled for Saturday morning, October 27.
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