First Regular-Season NCAA DII Regional Rankings Announced

NEW ORLEANS – Though the NCAA Division II cross country season is still young and all of the preseason regional favorites remained entrenched atop their respective domains, the first regular-season edition of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Regional Rankings released Tuesday was not without intrigue.

Of the 16 total regions in NCAA DII cross country (eight for the men, eight for the women), exactly half of them saw new teams rise up into “qualifying territory”. Each region is allotted a certain number of NCAA Championships-qualifying teams based on its teams’ performance at the previous NCAA Championships.

Regional Rankings Summary PDF | Division II XC Rankings Central
QUICK LINKS: Men’s Regions | Women’s Regions

For the men, Indiana (Pa.) moved up into the Atlantic Region’s third of three qualifying position, Northwest Missouri climbed two positions to No. 4 in the five-bid Central, Ferris State stepped up one spot to the fifth slot of five in the Midwest, and Columbus State bumped up one spot to No. 3 in the three-bid Southeast.

On the women’s side, Slippery Rock jumped up three spots to No. 3 in the three-bid Atlantic Region, Bellarmine went from unranked to No. 4 in a very deep Midwest that will send six teams to NCAAs, UC-Colorado Springs moved up one spot to the fourth of four bids in the South Central, and Queens (N.C.) stepped up one position to No. 3 in the three-bid Southeast.

Of course, the season is young and there are literally thousands and thousands of miles/kilometers to be run before the all-important regional championships on Saturday, November 7, so there will be more than a few more moves in and out of qualifying position as the season progresses.

While there were no new No. 1 teams this week, several teams performed well enough in the first half of September to advance to No. 2 in their respective regions.

The men’s rankings featured two such teams as Roberts Wesleyan swapped spots with now-No. 3 American International in the East Region, and Queens (N.C.) moved up to No. 2 in the Southeast after the position’s former occupant, Mars Hill, dropped down to No. 6.

Alaska Anchorage’s women were the lone new No. 2 for their gender this week, displacing GNAC rival Simon Fraser to No. 3.

New to this week’s rankings:

• Men: Southwest Baptist (Central), Bellarmine and Maryville (Mo.) (Midwest), West Alabama (South), Black Hills State (South Central), Georgia College, Lincoln Memorial and Anderson (S.C.) (Southeast), and UC San Diego and Western Oregon (West).
• Women: Mercyhurst (Atlantic), Philadelphia (East), Bellarmine (Midwest), North Alabama (South), UNC Pembroke and Coker (Southeast), and Cal State San Bernardino (West).

NCAA Division II Regional Championships will be held around the country on Saturday, November 7 with the NCAA Championships happening two weeks later in Joplin, Missouri.

USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country 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 predicted team finishes at the NCAA Regional Championships.