After receiving votes in last week's release, the UIS men's cross country team is back in the national rankings, moving into the top-30 at No. 28 in the USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Men's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll. Some of the region's top teams competed at the Roy Griak Invitational, while UIS rested its top runners to focus on the upcoming Lucian Rosa Invitational at Parkside this weekend.

Regionally, UIS holds steady at No. 6 in the Midwest rankings, with Walsh, Tiffin, and Wayne State dropping slightly and Michigan Tech climbing one spot. The top three ranked teams in the region—Grand Valley State, Saginaw Valley State, and Lewis—remain unchanged.

The national poll shows a strong Midwest presence, with Grand Valley State at No. 4, Saginaw Valley State at No. 10, and Michigan Tech surging to No. 20 after a seven-spot jump. UIS joins this group, marking a notable return to the ranked lists after receiving votes in the last release. There was movement for one previously unranked team, as Missouri Southern jumped to No. 26.

This weekend's Lucian Rosa Invite presents a key opportunity for UIS to test its squad against top competition and potentially climb even higher in both regional and national standings. With the season still young and high-level competition ramping up, Prairie Stars fans should be ready for an exciting fall of cross country racing.

National Poll