2021 NCAA DIII Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Preseason

NEW ORLEANS – It’s the dawn of a new era in NCAA Division III Cross Country!

Here are the first Women’s Regional Rankings for the 2021 season, using the new, 10-region model that goes into effect on September 1. For the uninitiated, the new regions that will be used are the East, Great Lakes, Metro, Mid-Atlantic, Mideast, Midwest, Niagara, North, South, and West.

East Region

Tufts and MIT sit No. 1 and No. 2 to begin the season, respectively.

The Jumbos, who finished eighth at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, return five of their top-7 athletes from that squad, including sixth-place finisher Danielle Page. Tufts had a strong showing at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in distance events with three top-8 finishes (Page accounted for two of those).

The Engineers, who finished seventh at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, have “almost an entirely new squad” compared to two years ago. MIT does welcome back Izzi Gengaro, who finished 10th at that NCAA meet.

WPI, Bates and Bowdoin round out the rest of the top-5 at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

Great Lakes Region

Hope and John Carroll sit No. 1 and No. 2 to begin the season, respectively.

The Flying Dutch, who finished 27th at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, have a plethora of new faces ready to lead the program into a new era. Anastasia Tucker is the unquestioned leader of the pack with an All-American effort in cross country as a freshman and a fourth-place finish outdoors over 5000 meters this past May.

The Blue Streaks, who finished 21st at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, return four of their top-7 athletes from that meet. Cameron Bujaucius is the top returner from that squad, as she is a two-time national qualifier in the 10,000 meters and took eighth in that event at the NCAA outdoor meet this past May.

Trine, Otterbein and Oberlin round out the rest of the top-5 at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

Metro Region

Swarthmore and Rowan sit No. 1 and No. 2 to begin the season, respectively.

The Garnet could make some noise in the new-look region and make their first appearance at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in program history. Swarthmore features three athletes who posted sub-23:00 marks over 6K, including rising senior Emma Novak.

The Profs, who are looking for their first appearance at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships since 2012, are expected to field a deep squad. According to our regional ranker, Rowan can put five athletes sub-24:00, which bodes well for the NCAA postseason.

Widener, Haverford and Moravian round out the rest of the top-5 at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

Mid-Atlantic Region

Johns Hopkins and Dickinson sit No. 1 and No. 2 to begin the season, respectively.

The Blue Jays, who won the national title at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, only return two athletes from that squad, but rebuilt masterfully. Johns Hopkins will feature two athletes who finished in the top-20 at the Mideast Region Championships in 2019 (Katherine Priu and Stephanie Brown) as well as a trio of transfers in Bridgid Selfors (Tulane), Sara Stephenson (Washington and Lee), and Diana Vizza (Dartmouth).

The Red Devils, who finished ninth at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, return just two athletes from that squad two years ago. Elaina Clancy is one of those returners, though: Clancy took fifth in the 10,000 meters at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships this past May.

Carnegie Mellon, Misericordia and Elizabethtown round out the rest of the top-5 at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

Mideast Region

Williams and Amherst sit No. 1 and No. 2 to begin the season, respectively.

The Ephs, who finished third at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, are a bit of an unknown going into the 2021 season, but should field a strong squad. Eva Borton is the top returner for the program, finishing 22nd at the NCAA meet two years ago. Look out for Genna Girard, too (Girard took sixth in the 10,000 meters at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships this past May).

The Mammoths, who are looking for their first trip to the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships since 2014, will be led by Sophia Wolmer. The rising sophomore doubled at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 5000 and 10,000 meters, posting an All-America effort in the latter event with a mark of 36:20.64.

Middlebury, RPI and Wesleyan (Conn.) round out the rest of the top-5 at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

Midwest Region

Washington (Mo.) and Wartburg sit No. 1 and No. 2 to begin the season, respectively.

The Bears, who finished a close runner-up at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, welcome back three athletes from that squad. During the recent outdoor track & field season, Zarya de Souza, Sidney Stribrny, Emma Walter and Sophie Young all stood out.

The Knights, who finished sixth at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, return four athletes who starred on that squad. Carina Collet is the leading returner, placing 11th at NCAAs. Aubrie Fisher finished 42nd as a freshman two years ago and had a breakout 2021, winning the steeplechase crown at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships and taking 10th in the 5000 meters as part of a double.

UChicago, Loras and Illinois Wesleyan round out the rest of the top-5 at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

Niagara Region

SUNY Geneseo and Rochester (N.Y.) sit No. 1 and No. 2 to begin the season, respectively.

The Knights, who finished 10th at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, return just two athletes from that squad but brought in a plethora of new faces – 22 freshmen, to be exact! SUNY Geneseo saw its distance runners flourish at the SUNYAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships this past May, sweeping the top-5 spots in both the 5000 and 10,000 meters.

The Yellow Jackets, who finished 18th at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, are expected to make some noise this fall. Rochester (N.Y.) features three athletes who boast 5K PRs of 18:20 to 18:30 – Rachel Dennis, Grace Ilitis and Icel Sukovaty.

Ithaca, St. John Fisher and RIT round out the rest of the top-5 at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

North Region

UW-La Crosse and Carleton sit No. 1 and No. 2 to begin the season, respectively.

The Eagles, who finished 19th at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, return five athletes from that squad. Look for Emma Malooly to build off a successful outdoor season, where she finished third in the steeplechase at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

The Knights, who finished fifth at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, return just two of their top-7 athletes from that meet. Clara Mayfield is the leader of the team after finishing 30th as a freshman two years ago and putting together a strong outdoor season, capped by a 14th-place effort in the 5000 at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

UW-Eau Claire, St. Olaf and UW-Stevens Point round out the rest of the top-5 at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

South Region

Emory and Washington and Lee sit No. 1 and No. 2 to begin the season, respectively.

The Eagles, who finished 22nd at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, return three athletes from that squad. Shannon Marsh and Annika Urban are expected to lead the way for Emory, as they boast PRs of 17:47 and 17:03 over 5000 meters, respectively.

The Generals, who finished 29th at the 2019 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, have a young but potentially strong team. Carolyn Todd should make a big step in 2021 after a strong freshman year on the track that saw her finish second in both the 5000 and 10,000 meters at the ODAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Lynchburg, Christopher Newport and Rhodes round out the rest of the top-5 at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

West Region

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Colorado College sit No. 1 and No. 2 to begin the season, respectively.

The Athenas, who finished 20th at the 2019 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, should have a talented squad two years later. Not much is known of CMS, as it hasn’t competed since the SCIAC Multi Dual on March 7, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tigers, who are looking to make their first trip to the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships since 2016, were able to compete earlier this year and stood out. Colorado College finished runner-up at the SCAC Cross Country Championships as it used pack running to its advantage, putting all five scorers between fourth and ninth place.

Pomona-Pitzer, UC Santa Cruz and Lewis & Clark round out the rest of the top-5 at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.