Griak Causes Movement in Newest NCAA DII Regional Rankings
NEW ORLEANS – No new top-ranked teams emerged in the week three edition of the NCAA Division II Cross Country Regional Rankings, but a few teams better positioned themselves for runs at NCAA Championships qualifying.
A trio of women’s teams and one more men’s squad moved into “qualifying territory” within their respective regions in the rankings announced Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), while several other moved onto the bubble.
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UC-Colorado Springs jumped to No. 3 in the South Central, Pittsburg State rose to No. 4 in the Central, and Northern Michigan climbed to No. 5 in the Midwest.
For the men, Black Hills State moved to No. 5 in the South Central.
Each region is allotted a certain number of team qualifiers (listed in the tables below) to the NCAA Championships in Saint Leo, Florida, on November 19. Those qualifiers from each region are determined based on the results of regional championships weekend on November 5-6.
All four teams benefitted from strong showings at the Roy Griak Invitational. NMU finished third overall while UCCS was fourth. Pittsburg State finished seventh after taking down regional foe Winona State (13th).
In the men’s race, Black Hills State finished third.
Griak also affected the women’s West’s rankings order, though it didn’t result in any new teams moving into qualifying territory. UC San Diego moved up to No. 3 in the region after finishing fifth, while Western Washington dropped two spots to No. 4 after taking sixth.
Beyond Black Hills State, all was relatively steady in the men’s rankings; no new No. 1 teams ascended to the tops of their regions and no other new teams advanced into qualifying territory.
Behind National Athlete of the Week Ronald Cheserek, Saint Leo moved onto the bubble at No. 4 in the three-bid South Region. The Lions won the non-DI competition at Florida’s Mountain Dew Gator Invitational. The NCAA Championships will be held on Saint Leo’s home course.
See the full rankings below.
he United States (as well as Canada and Puerto Rico) is split into eight distinct regions for both the men and the women, combining for 16 total. Teams qualify to the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships on November 19 based on their finishes at these regional championships on November 5-6, with each region allotted a specific number of NCAA Championship berths based on 2015 results.
These rankings aim to predict how teams will fare within those regional championship races. They 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.
USTFCCCA NCAA Division II |
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Men’s Cross Country Regional Team Rankings |
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2016 Week #3 — September 27 |
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| national poll release: September 28 | ||||
| next regional release: October 4 | ||||
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ATLANTIC Region (4 Auto Quals)
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Shippensburg | Shippensburg, Pa. | PSAC |
1
|
| 2 | Lock Haven | Lock Haven, Pa. | PSAC |
2
|
| 3 | Edinboro | Edinboro, Pa. | PSAC |
3
|
| 4 | Bloomsburg | Bloomsburg, Pa. | PSAC |
4
|
| 5 | Kutztown | Kutztown, Pa. | PSAC |
5
|
| 6 | Concord | Concord, W. Va. | Mountain East |
10
|
| 7 | Charleston (W.Va.) | Charleston, W.Va. | Mountain East |
NR
|
| 8 | East Stroudsburg | East Stroudsburg, Pa. | PSAC |
6
|
| 9 | Slippery Rock | Slippery Rock, Pa. | PSAC |
8
|
| 10 | West Virginia Wesleyan | Buckhannon, W.Va. | Mountain East |
9
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Shippensburg, 2014: Lock Haven, 2013: Lock Haven, 2012: Edinboro, 2011: Edinboro |
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CENTRAL Region (4 Auto Quals)
|
Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Augustana (S.D.) | Sioux Falls, S.D. | NSIC |
1
|
| 2 | Missouri Southern | Joplin, Mo. | MIAA |
3
|
| 3 | MSU Moorhead | Moorhead, Minn. | NSIC |
2
|
| 4 | Harding | Searcy, Ark. | Great American |
4
|
| 5 | Fort Hays State | Hays, Kan. | MIAA |
5
|
| 6 | East Central (Okla.) | Ada, Okla. | Great American |
6
|
| 7 | Northwest Missouri | Maryville, Mo. | MIAA |
7
|
| 8 | Southwest Baptist | Bolivar, Mo. | MIAA |
9
|
| 9 | Pittsburg State | Pittsburg, Kan. | MIAA |
10
|
| 10 | Lindenwood | St. Charles, Mo. | MIAA |
NR
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Augustana (S.D.), 2014: Augustana (S.D.), 2013: Augustana (S.D.), 2012: Augustana (S.D.), 2011: Adams State |
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EAST Region (3 Auto Quals)
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | American International | Springfield, Mass. | Northeast-10 |
1
|
| 2 | Bentley | Waltham, Mass. | Northeast-10 |
3
|
| 3 | Stonehill | Easton, Mass. | Northeast-10 |
2
|
| 4 | Southern New Hampshire | Manchester, N.H. | Northeast-10 |
4
|
| 5 | Adelphi | Garden City, N.Y. | Northeast-10 |
5
|
| 6 | Roberts Wesleyan | Chili, N.Y. | East Coast |
8
|
| 7 | Franklin Pierce | Rindge, N.H. | Northeast-10 |
7
|
| 8 | Wilmington (Del.) | New Castle, Del. | CACC |
6
|
| 9 | Merrimack | North Andover, Mass. | Northeast-10 |
9
|
| 10 | Le Moyne | Syracuse, N.Y. | Northeast-10 |
10
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: American International, 2014: American International, 2013: Stonehill, 2012: American International, 2011: UMass Lowell |
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MIDWEST Region (5 Auto Quals)
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Grand Valley State | Allendale, Mich. | GLIAC |
1
|
| 2 | Hillsdale | Hillsdale, Mich. | GLIAC |
2
|
| 3 | Southern Indiana | Evansville, Ind. | GLVC |
3
|
| 4 | Saginaw Valley State | Bay City, Mich. | GLIAC |
4
|
| 5 | Bellarmine | Louisville, Ky. | GLVC |
5
|
| 6 | Walsh | North Canton, Ohio | GLIAC |
6
|
| 7 | Lewis | Romeoville, Ill. | GLVC |
8
|
| 8 | UW-Parkside | Kenosha, Wis. | GLVC |
7
|
| 9 | Ashland | Ashland, Ohio | GLIAC |
9
|
| 10 | Ferris State | Big Rapids, Mich. | GLIAC |
10
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Grand Valley State, 2014: Grand Valley State, 2013: Grand Valley State, 2012: Grand Valley State, 2011: Grand Valley State |
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SOUTH Region (3 Auto Quals)
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Lee (Tenn.) | Cleveland, Tenn. | Gulf South |
1
|
| 2 | Florida Southern | Lakeland, Fla. | Sunshine |
2
|
| 3 | Alabama-Huntsville | Huntsville, Ala. | Gulf South |
3
|
| 4 | Saint Leo | Saint Leo, Fla. | Sunshine |
5
|
| 5 | Nova Southeastern | Davie, Fla. | Sunshine |
4
|
| 6 | North Alabama | Florence, Ala. | Gulf South |
7
|
| 7 | West Alabama | Livingston, Ala. | Gulf South |
6
|
| 8 | Tampa | Tampa, Fla. | Sunshine |
8
|
| 9 | West Florida | Pensacola, Fla. | Gulf South |
9
|
| 10 | Florida Tech | Melbourne, Fla. | Sunshine |
NR
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Saint Leo, 2014: Florida Southern, 2013: Florida Southern, 2012: Nova Southeastern, 2011: Alabama-Huntsville |
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SOUTH CENTRAL Region (5 Auto Quals)
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Colorado Mines | Golden, Colo. | RMAC |
1
|
| 2 | Adams State | Alamosa, Colo. | RMAC |
2
|
| 3 | Western State | Gunnison, Colo. | RMAC |
3
|
| 4 | CSU-Pueblo | Pueblo, Colo. | RMAC |
4
|
| 5 | Black Hills State | Spearfish, S.D. | RMAC |
6
|
| 6 | West Texas A&M | Canyon, Texas | Lone Star |
5
|
| 7 | Dallas Baptist | Dallas, Texas | Heartland Conference |
7
|
| 8 | UC-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, Colo. | RMAC |
9
|
| 9 | Metro State | Denver, Colo. | RMAC |
10
|
| 10 | Newman | Wichita, Kan. | Heartland Conference |
NR
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Adams State, 2014: Adams State, 2013: Adams State, 2012: Adams State, 2011: Eastern New Mexico |
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SOUTHEAST Region (3 Auto Quals)
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Mount Olive | Mount Olive, N.C. | Conf. Carolinas |
1
|
| 2 | Queens (N.C.) | Charlotte, N.C. | SAC |
2
|
| 3 | Mars Hill | Mars Hill, N.C. | SAC |
3
|
| 4 | Augusta | Augusta, Ga. | Peach Belt |
4
|
| 5 | Flagler | St. Augustine, Fla. | Peach Belt |
5
|
| 6 | Anderson (S.C.) | Anderson, S.C. | SAC |
6
|
| 7 | Montevallo | Montevallo, Ala. | Peach Belt |
7
|
| 8 | UNC Pembroke | Pembroke, N.C. | Peach Belt |
8
|
| 9 | Columbus State | Columbus, Ga. | Peach Belt |
9
|
| 10 | Young Harris | Young Harris, Ga. | Peach Belt |
10
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Mount Olive, 2014: Mars Hill, 2013: Mount Olive, 2012: Columbus State, 2011: Queens (N.C.) |
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WEST Region (5 Auto Quals)
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Chico State | Chico, Calif. | CCAA |
1
|
| 2 | Cal Poly Pomona | Pomona, Calif. | CCAA |
2
|
| 3 | Alaska Anchorage | Anchorage, Alaska | GNAC |
3
|
| 4 | UC San Diego | La Jolla, Calif. | CCAA |
5
|
| 5 | Western Washington | Bellingham, Wash. | GNAC |
4
|
| 6 | Cal Baptist | Riverside, Calif. | PacWest |
6
|
| 7 | Simon Fraser | Burnaby, B.C. | GNAC |
7
|
| 8 | Academy of Art | San Francisco, Calif. | PacWest |
8
|
| 9 | SF State | San Francisco, Calif. | CCAA |
9
|
| 10 | Western Oregon | Monmouth, Ore. | GNAC |
10
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Alaska Anchorage, 2014: Chico State, 2013: Chico State, 2012: Chico State, 2011: Alaska Anchorage |
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USTFCCCA NCAA Division II |
||||
Women’s Cross Country Regional Team Rankings |
||||
2016 Week #3 — September 27 |
||||
| national poll release: September 28 | ||||
| next regional release: October 4 | ||||
|
ATLANTIC Region (3 Auto Quals)
|
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Bloomsburg | Bloomsburg, Pa. | PSAC |
1
|
| 2 | Shippensburg | Shippensburg, Pa. | PSAC |
2
|
| 3 | Seton Hill | Greensburg, Pa. | PSAC |
3
|
| 4 | East Stroudsburg | East Stroudsburg, Pa. | PSAC |
4
|
| 5 | California (Pa.) | California, Pa. | PSAC |
5
|
| 6 | Edinboro | Edinboro, Pa. | PSAC |
6
|
| 7 | Lock Haven | Lock Haven, Pa. | PSAC |
7
|
| 8 | Kutztown | Kutztown, Pa. | PSAC |
8
|
| 9 | Slippery Rock | Slippery Rock, Pa. | PSAC |
9
|
10 | Mercyhurst | Erie, Pa. | PSAC |
10
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: California (Pa.), 2014: Edinboro, 2013: Edinboro, 2012: Shippensburg, 2011: Shippensburg |
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CENTRAL Region (4 Auto Quals)
|
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | U-Mary | Bismarck, N.D. | NSIC |
1
|
| 2 | Minnesota Duluth | Duluth, Minn. | NSIC |
2
|
| 3 | Augustana (S.D.) | Sioux Falls, S.D. | NSIC |
3
|
| 4 | Pittsburg State | Pittsburg, Kan. | MIAA |
5
|
| 5 | Southwest Baptist | Bolivar, Mo. | MIAA |
6
|
| 6 | Fort Hays State | Hays, Kan. | MIAA |
7
|
| 7 | MSU Moorhead | Moorhead, Minn. | NSIC |
NR
|
| 8 | Harding | Searcy, Ark. | Great American |
8
|
| 9 | Missouri Southern | Joplin, Mo. | MIAA |
9
|
| 10 | Winona State | Winona, Minn. | NSIC |
4
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Southwest Baptist, 2014: Minnesota Duluth, 2013: Minnesota Duluth, 2012: Augustana (S.D.), 2011: Western State |
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EAST Region (3 Auto Quals)
|
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Stonehill | Easton, Mass. | Northeast-10 |
1
|
| 2 | Assumption | Worcester, Mass. | Northeast-10 |
2
|
| 3 | Roberts Wesleyan | Chili, N.Y. | East Coast |
3
|
| 4 | Daemen | Amherst, N.Y. | East Coast |
4
|
| 5 | Merrimack | North Andover, Mass. | Northeast-10 |
5
|
| 6 | Bentley | Waltham, Mass. | Northeast-10 |
6
|
| 7 | Le Moyne | Syracuse, N.Y. | Northeast-10 |
7
|
| 8 | St. Thomas Aquinas | Sparkill, N.Y. | East Coast |
8
|
| 9 | Adelphi | Garden City, N.Y. | Northeast-10 |
9
|
| 10 | Saint Rose | Albany, N.Y. | Northeast-10 |
10
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Stonehill, 2014: Roberts Wesleyan, 2013: Stonehill, 2012: Stonehill, 2011: Stonehill |
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MIDWEST Region (5 Auto Quals)
|
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Grand Valley State | Allendale, Mich. | GLIAC |
1
|
| 2 | Southern Indiana | Evansville, Ind. | GLVC |
2
|
| 3 | Hillsdale | Hillsdale, Mich. | GLIAC |
3
|
| 4 | Cedarville | Cedarville, Ohio | G-MAC |
4
|
| 5 | Northern Michigan | Marquette, Mich. | GLIAC |
6
|
| 6 | Malone | Canton, Ohio | G-MAC |
5
|
| 7 | Lewis | Romeoville, Ill. | GLVC |
7
|
| 8 | Walsh | North Canton, Ohio | GLIAC |
8
|
| 9 | UW-Parkside | Kenosha, Wis. | GLVC |
9
|
| 10 | Bellarmine | Louisville, Ky. | GLVC |
10
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Grand Valley State, 2014: Grand Valley State, 2013: Grand Valley State, 2012: Grand Valley State, 2011: Grand Valley State |
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SOUTH Region (3 Auto Quals)
|
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Saint Leo | Saint Leo, Fla. | Sunshine |
1
|
| 2 | Lee (Tenn.) | Cleveland, Tenn. | Gulf South |
2
|
| 3 | Union (Tenn.) | Jackson, Tenn. | Gulf South |
3
|
| 4 | Tampa | Tampa, Fla. | Sunshine |
4
|
| 5 | West Alabama | Livingston, Ala. | Gulf South |
5
|
| 6 | North Alabama | Florence, Ala. | Gulf South |
6
|
| 7 | Alabama-Huntsville | Huntsville, Ala. | Gulf South |
7
|
| 8 | Palm Beach Atlantic | West Palm Beach, Fla. | Independent (DII) |
NR
|
| 9 | Florida Tech | Melbourne, Fla. | Sunshine |
10
|
| 10 | West Florida | Pensacola, Fla. | Gulf South |
NR
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Tampa, 2014: Tampa, 2013: Tampa, 2012: Tampa, 2011: Tampa |
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|
SOUTH CENTRAL Region (5 Auto Quals)
|
Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Adams State | Alamosa, Colo. | RMAC |
1
|
| 2 | Western State | Gunnison, Colo. | RMAC |
2
|
| 3 | UC-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, Colo. | RMAC |
6
|
| 4 | Dallas Baptist | Dallas, Texas | Heartland Conference |
3
|
| 5 | Colorado Mines | Golden, Colo. | RMAC |
4
|
| 6 | Fort Lewis | Durango, Colo. | RMAC |
5
|
| 7 | CSU-Pueblo | Pueblo, Colo. | RMAC |
7
|
| 8 | Colorado Christian | Lakewood, Colo. | RMAC |
8
|
| 9 | Black Hills State | Spearfish, S.D. | RMAC |
NR
|
| 10 | Midwestern State | Wichita Falls, Texas | Lone Star |
9
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Adams State, 2014: Adams State, 2013: Adams State, 2012: Adams State, 2011: Midwestern State |
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SOUTHEAST Region (3 Auto Quals)
|
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Montevallo | Montevallo, Ala. | Peach Belt |
1
|
| 2 | Queens (N.C.) | Charlotte, N.C. | SAC |
2
|
| 3 | North Georgia | Dahlonega, Ga. | Peach Belt |
3
|
| 4 | Anderson (S.C.) | Anderson, S.C. | SAC |
4
|
| 5 | Wingate | Wingate, N.C. | SAC |
5
|
| 6 | Mount Olive | Mount Olive, N.C. | Conf. Carolinas |
6
|
| 7 | Augusta | Augusta, Ga. | Peach Belt |
7
|
| 8 | UNC Pembroke | Pembroke, N.C. | Peach Belt |
NR
|
| 9 | Georgia College | Milledgeville, Ga. | Peach Belt |
8
|
| 10 | Flagler | St. Augustine, Fla. | Peach Belt |
9
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Montevallo, 2014: Montevallo, 2013: Wingate, 2012: Columbus State, 2011: Queens (N.C.) |
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WEST Region (6 Auto Quals)
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| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
Last Week
|
| 1 | Chico State | Chico, Calif. | CCAA |
1
|
| 2 | Cal Baptist | Riverside, Calif. | PacWest |
3
|
| 3 | UC San Diego | La Jolla, Calif. | CCAA |
5
|
| 4 | Western Washington | Bellingham, Wash. | GNAC |
2
|
| 5 | Seattle Pacific | Seattle, Wash. | GNAC |
4
|
| 6 | Alaska Anchorage | Anchorage, Alaska | GNAC |
6
|
| 7 | Point Loma Nazarene | San Diego, Calif. | PacWest |
7
|
| 8 | Simon Fraser | Burnaby, B.C. | GNAC |
8
|
| 9 | Humboldt State | Arcata, Calif. | CCAA |
9
|
| 10 | Cal Poly Pomona | Pomona, Calif. | CCAA |
10
|
| Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Chico State, 2014: Simon Fraser, 2013: Alaska Anchorage, 2012: Chico State, 2011: Alaska Anchorage |
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