KEY

(Unranked):

Was not ranked the week before.

(#/#):

First number indicates how much the individual has moved in the rankings.The second number indicates where they were ranked the week before.

25. Wyatt Baxter, Junior, Chico State (-4 / 21)

Baxter didn’t compete this past weekend.

24. Kyle Moran, Rs. Freshman, Colorado Mines (Unranked)

We added another Oredigger this week and for good reason. Moran was 20th at the Chile Pepper Festival and finished with a time of 24:20 which was ahead of multiple established D2 distance standouts. He adds yet another layer of depth to this Colorado Mines team which has a legitimate shot at putting five athletes inside the top 40.

23. Ross Husch, Rs. Senior, Western Colorado (-4 / 19)

Husch ran a personal best over 8000 meters the weekend, but his overall finish pushed him back to 36th at the Chile Pepper Festival. It's hard to penalize someone for a PR, but there were just too many guys who ran better than him. Regardless, Husch is still fit and he should be a strong #3 option for the Mountaineers this fall.

22. Austin Nolan, Senior, Southern Indiana (-2 / 20)

Nolan didn’t compete this past weekend.

21. Ezekiel Kipchirchir, Junior, West Texas A&M (Unranked)

Kipchirchir enters our rankings after a very strong performance at the Louisville Classic. He finished 7th in a front-heavy field of D1 athletes and ran 23:47. The transfer brings the Buffaloes a strong low-stick that they can lean on this fall and next. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him move up in our Top 25 as the season goes on.

20. Luke Julian, Rs. Sophomore, Colorado Mines (+2 / 22)

Julian acted as the #3 scorer for the Orediggers over the weekend. He ran 24:23, finishing 23rd at the Chile Pepper Festival which was crowded with top D1 and D2 competition. Julian continues to impress in just his second year of competition. He is trending upwards, but it’ll be interesting to see if he continues this progression as the season goes on.

19. Kale Adams, Rs. Senior, Adams State (+4 / 23)

Adams ran 23:55 at Paul Short to earn a 25th place finish in what was one of the deepest meets in the country this past weekend. He finally looks like he is getting back to the level that we saw from him a few years ago when he finished 3rd at the national meet. He is likely going to be the biggest component of the Grizzlies competing for the team title this season.

18. Felix Kemboi, Senior, Alaska Anchorage (0 / 18)

Kemboi didn’t compete this past weekend.

17. Steven Brown, Senior, Sioux Falls (-2 / 15)

Brown didn’t compete this past weekend.

16. Luc Hagen, Rs. Junior, Colorado Mines (0 / 16)

Hagen stays put at #16 this week. He didn’t have his best race of the season as he was the #4 scorer for the Orediggers at the Chile Pepper Festival, finishing 28th overall. The off day was likely an anomaly and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him and Julian switch places in the postseason.

15. Joshua Chepkesir, Sophomore, UNC Pembroke (-1 / 14)

Chepkesir didn’t compete this past weekend.

14. Titus Winders, Sophomore, Southern Indiana (-3 / 11)

Winders didn’t compete this past weekend.

13. Anthony Raftis, Senior, Queens (N.C.) (-3 / 10)

Raftis didn’t compete this past weekend.

12. Karim Achengli, Senior, NW Missouri (+1 / 13)

Achengli had a strong race this past weekend, finishing 22nd at Chile Pepper Festival. The only D2 guys who beat him were ones that are currently ranked ahead of him. Next to Ccope, he gives the Bearcats a strong 1-2 punch.

11. Braden Reichl, Junior, Michigan Tech (-2 / 9)

Reichl didn’t compete this past weekend.

10. Dylan Ko, Rs. Sophomore, Colorado Mines (+7 / 17)

Ko makes the biggest jump of the week after he finished 8th at the Chile Pepper Festival. He ran 23:59 and broke the 24:00 barrier for the first time in his career. He only lost to two other D2 athletes and a handful of high-level D1 runners. Don’t be surprised if Ko leads this Mines team for the rest of the year.

9. Jhordan Ccope, Junior, NW Missouri (+3 / 12)

One of those two athletes to beat Ko at Chile Pepper was Ccope. He ran 23:57 and was the second D2 athlete to cross the line. The transfer continues to post impressive results and has jumped his teammate Achengli in terms of who is the lead runner. Ccope has turned himself into a capable low-stick who has proven that he can compete with some of the top talents in the nation.

8. CarLee Stimpfel, Sophomore, Saginaw Valley State (0 / 8)

Stimpfel didn’t compete this past weekend.

7. Jack Mastandrea, Senior, Charleston (W.V.) (0 / 7)

Mastandrea didn’t compete this past weekend.

6. Mason Phillips, Rs. Senior, Sioux Falls (0 / 6)

Phillips didn’t compete this past weekend.

5. Charlie Sweeney, Rs. Sophomore, Western Colorado (0 / 5)

Sweeney was the 12th finisher at Chile Pepper and was the second athlete across the line for the Mountaineers. He ran 24:14 and is staying at the #5 spot this week. He was the fourth D2 runner across the line, but he’s still a top competitor when it comes to NCAA's and his growing consistency is often undervalued.

4. Wesley Kirui, Senior, Alaska Anchorage (0 / 4)

Kirui didn’t compete this past weekend.

3. Taylor Stack, Junior, Western Colorado (0 / 3)

Stack had the best race of his career en route to being named the USTFCCCA Athlete of the Week. He ran 23:55 and was 5th overall at the Chile Pepper Festival, further strengthening his spot among the D2 elites. We may have missed him race at his home meet, but he hasn’t missed a beat in terms of training. He’s a legitimate title contender who will be towards the top of the results in the postseason with Chada and Kimutai.

2. Tanner Chada, Sophomore, Grand Valley State (0 / 2)

Chada didn’t compete this weekend.

1. Gidieon Kimutai, Sophomore, Missouri Southern (0 / 1)

Kimutai didn’t compete this weekend.

ADDED

Kyle Moran (Colorado Mines)

Ezekiel Kipchirchir (West Texas A&M)

KICKED OFF

Isaiah Rodarte (Adams State)

Trad Berti (Chico State)

JUST MISSED (in no particular order)

Trad Berti (Chico State)

Dane Blomquist (Adams State)

Aaron Runge (Augustana (S.D.))

Jesus Urtusuatsegui (Augustana (S.D.))

Matthew Pahl (Michigan Tech)

HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order)

Silus Kipkoech (UNC Pembroke)

Kyle Hinson (Charleston (W.V.))

Calahan Warren (Embry Riddle)

Ben Zaremba (Grand Valley State)

Lucas Taxter (Stonehill)

Joshua Litwiller (Cal State San Marcos)

Augostine Lisoreng (NW Missouri)

Daniel Haymes (West Texas A&M)

Tai Smith (Mount Olive)

Christopher Sims (Roberts Wesleyan)