2019 NCAA DII Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 6
NEW ORLEANS – With conference champions crowned, the race for automatic bids begin to tighten up in final edition of the NCAA Division II Cross Country Regional Rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday.
SEE MORE: Conference Championships Weekend Recap
There are three new No. 1 teams and many others climbing the ranks as the next stop in the postseason is Regional Championships Weekend on Saturday, November 9.
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ATLANTIC REGION
There was some movement in the Atlantic Region from Week 5 to Week 6.
While No. 1 Charleston (W.V.) and No. 2 Edinboro remained locked in their places for the seventh straight week, Davis & Elkins moved up one spot to No. 3 following a Mountain East Conference title.
No. 4 Lock Haven moved up two spots after the Bald Eagles placed second at the PSAC Championships to Edinboro. No. 5 Concord rounded out the top-5.
CENTRAL REGION
There was little shifting in the Central Region from Week 5 to Week 6.
No. 1 Missouri Southern, No. 2 Augustana (S.D.), and No. 3 Northwest Missouri continued to be the favorites to receive automatic NCAA bids.
However, two new teams make an appearance in the fourth and fifth slots. MSU Moorhead moved up two spots to No. 4 after placing second at the NSIC Championships to Augustana (S.D.). Central Missouri made the biggest climb in the region, moving up four spots to No. 5. The Mules placed third behind Missouri Southern and Northwest Missouri to move back into the top-5 for the first time since 2017.
EAST REGION
The East had a few changes from Week 5 to Week 6, including a new No. 1
Roberts Wesleyan sits at the top of the region due to their 19-point victory at the East Coast Conference Championships. This is the highest regional placement in program history for the Redhawks. American International, the Northeast-10 Conference Champions, climbed up two spots to No. 2, while runner-up Stonehill remained at No. 3.
Southern Connecticut fell three spots to No. 4, while Franklin Pierce moved up two spots to No. 5 after placing fourth at the Northeast-10 Championships.
MIDWEST REGION
The Midwest saw two teams climb up the ranks from Week 5 to Week 6.
No. 1 Grand Valley State continued to stay on top following their 18th consecutive GLIAC Championships, while GLIAC runner-up Michigan Tech moved up one spot to No. 2 for their highest placement in program history. The Huskies placed second to the Lakers by 13 points, 44-57.
Saginaw Valley State moved up one spot to No. 4, as the Cardinals were the third place team at the GLIAC Championships, trailing Michigan Tech by 4 points.
No. 3 Southern Indiana and No. 5 Walsh both fell one spot each.
SOUTH REGION
Two teams climbed the South from Week 5 to Week 6, including a new No. 1.
For the first time since 2013, Alabama-Huntsville is the No. 1 team in the region. The Chargers won the Gulf South Conference over now No. 2 Lee (Tenn.), 35-52.
Saint Leo and Embry-Riddle (Fla.) traded places from a week ago to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. The Lions defeated the Eagles for the Sunshine State Conference Championship, 40-54.
Florida Southern remained at No. 5 with a third place finish at the Sunshine State Championships.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
There was no movement among the South Central from Week 5 to Week 6.
Colorado School of Mines, Adams State, and Western Colorado sit at No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 respectively. West Texas A&M and UC-Colorado Springs remain in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots.
Mines was dominant in claiming their third RMAC title in program history with 28 points, beating out Adams State (73 points) and Western Colorado (76 points), and UCCS (102 points). West Texas A&M won the Lone Star Conference with 39 points.
SOUTHEAST REGION
The Southeast saw a small shift from Week 5 to Week 6.
Mount Olive, Queens (N.C.), and Augusta sit at No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, respectively, with each winning their conference championships.
Making their first top-5 appearance this year is No. 4 Flagler, moving up three spots from No. 7. The Saints placed second at the Peach Belt Conference Championships behind team champion Augusta.
With the jump by Flagler, UNC Pembroke fell one spot to No. 5.
WEST REGION
There were some adjustments in the West from Week 5 to Week 5.
No. 1 Chico State remained the top team following a dominant performance to win their 18th straight CCAA Championship. Cal State San Marcos and UC San Diego, placing second and third respectively at the CCAA Championships, sit at No. 2 and No. 3 in the region and traded places from a week ago. This is the Cougars’ best regional ranking in program history.
Western Washington earned a three spot jump to No. 4 after winning the program’s fifth GNAC title and first since 2009. After winning the PacWest Cross Country Championships, Biola (Calif.) moved up one spot to No. 5.
WOMEN
ATLANTIC REGION
There were some changes in the Atlantic Region from Week 5 to Week 6.
No. 1 Davis & Elkins and No. 2 Edinboro remained at the top of the region, both winning their respective conference championships. The new No. 3 is West Chester after the Golden Rams placed second at the PSAC Championships, beating out now No. 4 Seton Hill 95-99 in the team standings.
Slippery Rock climbed up two spots from No. 7 to No. 5. The Rock placed fourth at the PSAC Championships to boost them to their first top-5 regional appearance since 2016.
CENTRAL REGION
The Central Region saw some adjustments from Week 5 to Week 6, including a new No. 1.
U-Mary is back in the driver’s seat with the Marauders bringing home their fourth straight title NSIC title. Augustana (S.D.) dropped one spot to No. 2 with their runner-up performance at the NSIC Championships.
Pittsburg State, previously unranked a week ago, vaulted to No. 3. The Gorillas won their third straight MIAA Championship. No. 4 Central Missouri moved up one spot, placing second at the MIAA Conference Championships.
No. 5 Oklahoma Baptist, although winning the Great American Conference for the third straight year, dropped two spots.
EAST REGION
There were a few adjustments in the East from Week 5 to Week 6.
No. 1 Roberts Wesleyan, No. 2 Stonehill, No. 3 Southern New Hampshire remained steady for the third week in a row following the results of their conference championships. The Redhawks won their sixth straight ECC title, while the Skyhawks won it’s 18th Northeast-10 Conference Championships, beating the Penmen 36-74.
No. 4 Saint Anselm and No. 5 Adelphi placed third and fourth respectively at the Northeast-10 Championships. The Hawks climbed two spots, while the Panthers fell one following the result.
MIDWEST REGION
There were some adjustments in the Midwest Region from Week 5 to Week 6.
No. 1 Grand Valley State and No. 2 Hillsdale remained at the top for the seventh consecutive week. The Lakers scored 17 points as they rolled to their 19th straight GLIAC Championship, and the Chargers reclaimed the GMAC title, topping now No. 3 Walsh 43-46.
Southern Indiana rose three spots to No. 4. The Screaming Eagles captured their 13th overall GLVC title, defeating Southwest Baptist 48-56. The Bearcats fell two spots to come in at No. 5.
SOUTH REGION
Some changes occurred in the South from Week 5 to Week 6.
While No. 1 Lee (Tenn.) and No. 2 Tampa remained steady for the sixth straight week on the strength of winning their respective conference championships, some changes occurred in the next three positions.
Rising four spots and breaking into the top-5 for the first time this season is No. 3 Saint Leo. The Lions turned in a second place finish at the Sunshine State Cross Country Championships behind team champion Tampa. Union (Tenn.) moved up one spot to No. 4 after finishing second at the Gulf South Conference behind Lee (Tenn.). Florida Southern finished third at the Sunshine State Championships and dropped one spot to No. 5
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
There was one adjustment in the South Central region from a week ago.
No. 1 Adams State, No. 2 Colorado School of Mines, and No. 3 Western Colorado and No. 4 UC-Colorado Springs all remained steady from last edition of the rankings. Adams State rolled to their eighth straight RMAC title with 21 points, followed by Mines (60 points), Western Colorado (88 points), and UCCS (122 points).
The new No. 5 team is Lubbock Christian. The Chaps earned a five-spot jump in the rankings after winning their first Lone Star Conference title since joining the conference in July of this year.
SOUTHEAST REGION
The Southeast Region saw three team rise from Week 5 to Week 6.
No. 1 Queens (N.C.) and No. 2 Wingate hold their spots for the fourth consecutive week. The Royals won their fourth straight SAC Championship, while the Bulldogs placed second.
Flagler, North Georgia, and Lenoir-Rhyne each moved up one spot to sit at No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5, respectively. The Saints successfully defended their Peach Belt Conference title, defeated the Nighthawks 40-49. The Bears placed third at the SAC Cross Country Championships.
WEST REGION
There were some shifts in the West from Week 5 to Week 6.
No. 1 Chico State remains as the class of the region, winning its 12th straight CCAA title in dominating fashion.
No. 2 Western Washington defeated No. 3 Alaska Anchorage 53-60 for the program’s first-ever GNAC title. Both moved up two spots from their previous rankings. No. 4 Seattle Pacific, finishing third at the GNAC Championships, and No. 5 Cal State East Bay, the CCAA runner-up, fell two spots each.
