Vikings and Falcons move up in latest USTFCCCA national Division II coaches' poll...

NEW ORLEANS—The Western Washington men’s cross country team moved up one spot, while its women’s squad (above/photo courtesy WWU Athletics) moved up two positions in the latest USTFCCCA Division II national coaches’ poll released Wednesday.

The Viking men’s squad moved up to #14 from #15, while its women’s team went up to #8 from #10 in the previous poll.

Western did not run its top runners at last Saturday’s Sundodger Invitational at Lincoln Park, as they prepare for this weekend’s Roy Griak Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota.  The Viking women finished eighth in the open section of the Sundodger, while the men’s team finished 13th.

Also moving up in the women’s national poll is Seattle Pacific, which moved up to #18 from the previous poll, where it was ranked #24.

On the men’s side, the top five teams in the nation are Colorado Mines, Grand Valley State, Adams State, Chico State, and Cal Poly Pomona.

The only other GNAC school ranked in the national top 25 is Alaska Anchorage at #9.

The top five women’s teams in the country are Grand Valley State, Adams State, Chico State, U-Mary, and Western State.

The other GNAC school in the national women’s poll besides Western and Seattle Pacific is Alaska Anchorage at #24, tumbling out of the national top ten after a disappointing showing at Sundodger last week, where they finished sixth.

While the Vikings head to Minnesota, Seattle Pacific will stay close to home and run in the Saint Martin’s Invitational in Lacey.

The USTFCCCA national men’s poll is available here, while the women’s poll is available here.

NOTE:  The USTFCCCA contributed to this report.