Top three teams remain the same in men's Division I poll

NEW ORLEANS - With Nationals only a week away, not much has changed in the men's Division I Cross Country poll. Oregon, Oklahoma State and Stanford remained the top three teams in the final poll of the 2008 cross country season released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Both Oregon and Oklahoma State won their respective regional titles, Oregon in the West and Oklahoma State in the Midwest. Galen Rupp and Shadrack Kiptoo-Biwott led the Ducks as they finished one-two respectively with all five Oregon runners finishing in the top 15.

Oklahoma State had four runners finish in the top seven in the Midwest Region led by John Kosgei who finished third overall. No. 3 Stanford finished second to Oregon in the West but will have another chance to take down the Ducks at next Monday's NCAA Division I Nationals.

Wisconsin is ranked fourth this week, up two spots from the previous rankings. The Badgers won the Great Lakes Regional title scoring 39 points as five of their seven runners finished in the top-20 overall. Alabama remains at No. 5 this week despite winning the South Regional title.

Portland is ranked sixth following its third-place finish in the West behind Oregon and Stanford, and is followed by Iona at No. 7. The Gaels improved one spot this week following the team's Northeast Regional title. Mohamed Khadraoui won the meet, leading the way for the Gaels.

Georgetown is ranked eighth followed by Michigan at No. 9. Georgetown was the Mid-Atlantic Regional winner, while Michigan finished second to Wisconsin in the Great Lakes. Colorado comes in at No. 10 this week, up six spots from the November 4th poll.

The Buffaloes won the Mountain Regional title as they had five runners finish in the top-15 overall led by sixth-place finisher Jordan Kyle.

Northern Arizona is ranked 11th in the poll, followed by Minnesota and Auburn. The College of William & Mary, winners of the Southeast Region, moves up three spots to No. 14, and is followed by Virginia at No. 15.

BYU begins the bottom half of the men's top 30 at No. 16, with Tulsa, California, Texas A&M, and Florida State completing the top-20. A&M won the South Central Regional title.

Washington and Iowa State are ranked Nos. 21 and 22 respectively. North Carolina State comes in at No. 23, down five spots from the previous poll.

Arkansas is ranked 24th this week followed by Butler cracking into the top-25 this week at No. 25. Penn State moves up to No. 26, UCLA at No. 27 and Providence at No. 28. Notre Dame and Cal Poly complete the men's top-30.

The NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships will take place on Monday, November 24th, 2008 and is hosted by Indiana State University.

The Men's Division I Cross Country National Poll:

ORV: Villanova (28), Indiana (6), Princeton (5), New Mexico (4), Michigan State (2), and Florida (1).

Dropped Out: No. 28 Indiana, and No. 30 UTEP.