NEW ORLEANS -- For the first time since 2002, Colorado is the top-ranked team in the USTFCCCA Top-30 Coaches’ Poll.
The ranking comes on the heels of CU’s dominate showing at the NCAA Pre-National Invitational on Oct. 19. The Buffs won the heavily stacked ‘Blue’ race with 90 points, besting runner-up No. 4 Oregon by 23 points. Behind the Ducks, then-No. 18 Iona came in third (126) and then-No. 29 Stanford was fourth (148). Oregon stayed at No. 4 in this week’s poll, Iona moved up to eighth, and Stanford is now 13th.
CU picked up six of the 12 first-place votes and 353 points to overtake the top position. Northern Arizona moved up from third to second this week with five first-place votes and 343 points. Former No. 1 Oklahoma State dropped to third with 333 points and the remaining first-place vote.
The last time the Buffs were No. 1 was Sept. 5, 2002. This is also the 12th time since 1998 that the Buffs have been ranked on top of the poll.
CU had been ranked second in the Past two polls this season and started out the year ranked third.
The regional rankings were released on Monday with the men on top of the NCAA Mountain Region poll.
The Buffs will be in action again for the Pac-12 Championships on Nov. 2.
