2017 NCAA DII Cross Country Regional Rankings — Week 1

NEW ORLEANS – A couple of weekends have come and gone since the NCAA Division II Cross Country Preseason Regional Rankings were announced. However, glancing at the newest batch of regional rankings, and one would think there hasn’t been much action at all.

That’s because the men’s and women’s teams that held the top spot in each of the eight regions two weeks ago remain in place in this edition of the rankings, announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday. Additionally, there were only six teams that made a jump into second place across the eight men’s and eight women’s regions.

REGIONAL RANKINGS SUMMARY PDF
REGIONAL RANKINGS – ALL-TIME WEEK BY WEEK

For those who don’t know, the 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.

COMPLETE RANKINGS: MEN | WOMEN

 Atlantic Region

A conservative approach at the Galen Piper 4K helped Shippensburg’s men’s squad stay at the top of the Atlantic Region rankings, followed by Edinboro, who remained in second thanks in large part to a 10th-place finish by transfer Austin Pondel (26:24) at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational. Indiana (Pa.) and Lock Haven held down third and fourth, respectively, while Kutztown jumped four spots to fifth after winning the Salisbury Invitational.

Shippensburg also grasped onto the top ranking on the women’s side, but there was some shuffling behind them. Edinboro leaped California (Pa.) for second place while Wheeling Jesuit and Lock Haven held down the fort at fourth and fifth, respectively.

Central Region

Sioux Falls’ men’s squad is the story in the region, as they moved from fourth to second after a big win at the Augustana Twilight on Sept. 1 that saw Mason Phillips (19:15.1), Steven Brown (19:37.0) and Jase Kraft (19:42.3) finish 1-2-4. They do still remain tucked away behind Missouri Southern, who finished ahead of an NCAA Division I program at the Forest Park Cross Country Festival this past weekend.

U-Mary’s women blew away the competition at the Dragon Twilight to pin down the top women’s ranking in the Central Region once again, with Alexis Zeis (13:13.3) winning the race. Winona State (sixth to third) and Fort Hays State (seventh to fifth) made significant leaps in the region.

East Region

There was not a lot of movement in the East Region on either the men’s or women’s side. The top-seven women’s teams remained in their respective rankings from a week ago, with Stonehill and Assumption leading the pack.

As for the men, Leakey Kipkosgei (15:25.5) and Kemani Hume (15:40.6) finishing 1-2 at the Adelphi Panthers XC Invitational two weekends ago to keep American International in the lead on the men’s field. However, Adelphi turned in a nice showing at its own meet, propelling them up a spot to third.

Midwest Region

Much like the East Region, the Midwest Region went relatively unscathed from one ranking to the next. Grand Valley State remains the team to beat in both the men’s and women’s rankings after sweeping the Calvin Knight Invite. Walsh’s men made the move to fifth after four of their athletes finished in the top-five at the Ric Sayre Invitational.

Spots two through nine in the women’s rankings were stagnant, with Saginaw Valley State moving into 10th being the lone change on their side of the polls.

South Region

The men’s portion of the South Region saw the most upheaval, with Embry-Riddle jumping from fifth to second after dominating the Holloway Park XC Preseason Festival that featured, among other teams, NCAA Division I South Florida. Lee (Tenn.) held onto the top billing on the men’s side.

Saint Leo, Lee (Tenn.) and Montevallo continued their hold on the top-three spots in the region, while Tampa rose to fourth after winning the Valdosta State Invitational, with freshman Zoe Jarvis (18:59.8) placing third in a field of 82 for the Spartans.

South Central Region

Dallas Baptist’s women were the only team that made any improvement in the top-five in the South Central Region over the last two weekends. At its home meet, the Patriots recorded a perfect score to move up one spot from sixth.

The top-five on the men’s side went unchanged. Adams State impressed enough on both sides of the rankings to stay as the leader of the pack.

Southeast Region

While Mount Olive and Queens (N.C.) stayed put in first and second, respectively, in the men’s rankings, there was significant movement in the top-five below them. Augusta jumped up one spot to third, followed by a two-spot leap by UNC Pembroke. No jump was as impressive as Anderson (S.C.), who moved into fifth after coming in at ninth a week ago after defeating the likes of Columbus State and Mars Hill at the Furman XC Classic.

The women of Queens (N.C.) remain the team to beat in the Southeast Region, but Mount Olive moved up a spot to second after beating Anderson – who slipped to third – at the Furman XC Classic.

West Region

They’ve yet to compete this season, but Chico State is still favored in both the men’s and women’s rankings in the West Region. There were changes in the runner-up on both sides, as Simon Fraser’s women’s squad made a three-spot jump to second after posted a perfect score at the Ash Creek Invitational. Julia Howley led the way for the Clan with a time of 16:24.6.

The men’s programs from Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Baptist moved up to second and third, respectively. Cal Poly Pomona won the Kim Duyst Invitational, while Cal Baptist defeated UC San Diego at the Lancer Invitational.

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