NEW ORLEANS - BYU women's cross country earned the No. 1 ranking in the latest USTFCCCA coaches' poll, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.
The last time the Cougars were the top team in the country was after they claimed the title at last year's Big 12 Championships. Since then, they have remained in the top four, finishing last season in the number two spot behind NC State and beginning this season in the number four spot in the preseason poll.
After being ranked No. 2 for the last three weeks, trailing NC State once again, this jump comes after BYU won the Pre-Nationals meet last Friday with 84 points. The Cougars prevailed triumphant in the head-to-head showdown against NC State, knocking the Wolfpack to No. 2.
Allowing BYU to remain undefeated were top finishers Taylor Rohatinsky, Taylor Lovell, Lexi Goff-Thompson, Karrie Baloga and Jenna Hutchins. With Zariel Macchia and Nelah Roberts' finishes, seven Cougars were among the top 30 to cross the line. Although NCAA All-American Jane Hedengren was absent from the lineup, Rohatinsky's ninth place season debut gave BYU the four point edge over NC State.
The Cougars will travel to compete in the Big 12 Championships at Oklahoma State on Saturday, Oct. 31 where they hope to earn their fourth-straight title.