2022 NCAA DIII Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Preseason

NEW ORLEANS – Cross country is back!

Here is the preseason edition of the NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2022 season, as released on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Regional Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning teams’ strength with current season results (if applicable) in determining a rank-order of squad potential. Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible to receive a ranking. Teams with provisional status within the region may be ranked.

Regional Championships Saturday is set for November 12.

East Region

MIT, which finished runner-up last year, is No. 1 to begin the season with last year’s regional champion Tufts at No. 2. The Engineers return their entire top-7 from last year, including six All-Region athletes, while the Jumbos also welcome back their entire scoring lineup, which includes three top-10 individuals.

Bates, WPI and Bowdoin round out the preseason top-5.

Great Lakes Region

Defending regional champion Hope is No. 1 to begin the season, followed by last year’s third-place team John Carroll. The Flying Dutch return six of the seven runners who helped them capture the regional crown, while the Blue Streaks welcome back a strong core and have been said to have added some dynamic freshmen to their roster.

Last year’s runner-up Calvin, Trine and Ohio Northern round out the preseason top-5.

Metro Region

Swarthmore, which finished runner-up last year, is No. 1 to begin the season with last year’s third-place team Widener at No. 2. The Garnet welcomes back a strong core that came on strong to end the 2021 season and built on that success on the track, while the Pride returns a talented group as well.

TCNJ, Stockton and defending regional champion Haverford round out the preseason top-5.

Mid-Atlantic Region

Defending regional champion Johns Hopkins is No. 1 to begin the season with last year’s third-place team Carnegie Mellon at No. 2. The Blue Jays, who also won the national title, return three of their top athletes from last year, who were All-Americans in cross country and/or track & field, while the Tartans welcome back five All-Region runners and add several talented athletes.

Last year’s runner-up Dickinson, Susquehanna and Misericordia round out the preseason top-5.

Mideast Region

Defending regional champion Williams is No. 1 to begin the season with last year’s third-place team Amherst at No. 2. The Ephs return four of their top-7 athletes and will look toward a small freshman class for depth, while the Mammoths return a talented top-4 that all finished top-35.

Last year’s runner-up Middlebury, Connecticut College and St. Lawrence rounds out the preseason top-5.

Midwest Region

Defending regional champion Wartburg is No. 1 to begin the season with last year’s third-place team UChicago at No. 2. The Knights return six of the seven athletes who helped them win that regional title as all of them placed in the top-25, while the Maroons welcome back their entire top-7 from last year, including four who finished among the top-20 athletes.

Last year’s runner-up Washington (Mo.), Loras and Central round out the preseason top-5.

Niagara Region

Defending regional champion SUNY Geneseo is No. 1 to begin the season with last year’s runner-up Rochester (N.Y.) at No. 2. The Knights return its entire top-7 that helped them win the regional title last year and added several talented athletes, while the Yellowjackets welcome back six of their top-7 athletes, including five who finished among the top-25 athletes.

Ithaca, Hamilton and NYU round out the preseason top-5.

North Region

Defending regional champion UW-La Crosse is No. 1 to begin the season with last year’s third-place team Carleton at No. 2. The Eagles return five of the top-7 runners who helped them win that regional title and added several impact freshmen, while the Knights welcome back their entire top-7 from last year, including five top-25 finishers.

St. Olaf, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point round out the preseason top-5.

South Region

Defending regional champion Emory and regional runner-up Lynchburg swapped spots to begin the season: the Hornets are No. 1 to begin the 2022 season thanks to returning six of their top-7 runners from last year’s squad; the Eagles also welcome back six of their top-7 athletes. Both squads lost an athlete who finished among the top-3 individuals last year.

Washington & Lee, Christopher Newport and Rhodes round out the preseason top-5.

West Region

Defending regional champion Claremont-Mudd-Scripps is No. 1 to begin the season with last year’s runner-up Pomona-Pitzer at No. 2. The Athenas, who later took runner-up honors at the NCAA Championships, return four of its top-7 athletes from that team, who all finished among the top-20 athletes, while the Sagehens welcome back their entire top-7 from last year.

Colorado College, George Fox and UC Santa Cruz round out the preseason top-5.