2022 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 4

NEW ORLEANS – The season is heating up!

Here is the newest edition of the NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2022 season, as released on Monday 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.

Remember that Regional Championships Friday is set for November 11. That’s the last stop on the #RunToStillwater, as we’ll know which teams get to compete at the 2022 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 19.

Great Lakes Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 2 Michigan State

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 5 Wisconsin

Mid-Atlantic Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Georgetown, No. 2 Villanova

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 West Virginia, No. 4 Penn State, No. 5 Princeton

Note: Villanova moved up two spots after a strong sixth-place finish at the Paul Short Run. West Virginia put together a solid second-place showing at the Live in the Lou Classic.

Midwest Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Oklahoma State, No, 2 Illinois

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Northwestern, No. 4 Iowa State, No. 5 Bradley

Note: Northwestern moved up to No. 3 in Week 4 after beating former No. 5 Minnesota at the Gans Creek Classic. Bradley, who is in the top-5 regionally for the first time since 2018, recently placed 10th at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational.

Mountain Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 New Mexico, No. 2 Northern Arizona

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 BYU, No. 4 Utah, No. 5 Colorado

Note: New Mexico, who was previously not ranked for the last two weeks, is now the top-ranked team in the region. The Lobos debuted their A-squad at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational and placed second overall.

Northeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Syracuse, No. 2 Providence

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Harvard, No. 4 Connecticut, No. 5 Northwestern.

Note: Syracuse leapfrogged Providence in Week 4. The top-ranked Orange got the nod due to the results of the Cowboy Jamboree, which saw Syracuse place sixth in a loaded field.

South Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Florida State

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Lipscomb, No. 4 Ole Miss, No. 5 Vanderbilt

Note: Florida State jumped to No. 2 this week following their fifth-place finish at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational against several top-ranked teams. Lipscomb, who is ranked in the top-5 for the first time since 2016, climbed four spots thanks for their second-place finish at the Gans Creek Classic. Vanderbilt also raced at the Joe Piane Invitational and finished 13th overall. 

South Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Arkansas, No. 2 Texas

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 LSU, No. 5 Rice

Southeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 NC State, No. 2 North Carolina

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Furman, No. 4 Kentucky, No. 5 Liberty

Note: Furman leapfrogged Kentucky in Week 4. The Paladins romped to the team title at the Live in the Lou Classic that featured several nationally-ranked teams. Liberty placed sixth at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational.

West Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Stanford, No. 2 Washington

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 California Baptist, No. 5 Oregon State