2023 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Preseason
NEW ORLEANS – Cross country is back!
Here is the preseason edition of the NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings, as released on Tuesday 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.
Regional Championships Friday will be held on November 10.
Great Lakes Region
Defending regional champion Wisconsin starts the season at No. 1 with regional runner-up Notre Dame right behind at No. 2. The Badgers return a major core of their title-winning team from 2022, including two All-Americans in Jackson Sharp and Bob Liking. The Irish return great depth and added two top-100 finishers from the NCAA Championships last year.
No. 3 Butler, No. 4 Michigan and No. 5 Michigan State round out the top-5 teams.
Mid-Atlantic Region
Defending regional champion Villanova starts the season at No. 1 with last year’s third-place squad Princeton at No. 2. Both the Wildcats and Tigers lost key pieces from those 2022 squads, but are said to have replenished the cupboard with both transfers and their freshman classes.
No. 3 Georgetown, No. 4 Pittsburgh and No. 5 La Salle round out the top-5 teams. This matches the best park in program history for the Panthers and is the Explorers’ best ranking since 2013.
Midwest Region
A tiebreaker was needed to determine the regional champion between Oklahoma State and Tulsa last year. Ultimately, it was the Golden Hurricane who came out on top, but right now it’s the Cowboys who headline the region to begin the season. OSU and Tulsa both lost a few low sticks, but are said to have added talented freshmen and transfers to fill those voids.
No. 3 Iowa State, No. 4 Drake and No. 5 Wichita State round out the top-5 teams. Both the Bulldogs and Shockers make program history: Drake earned its best ranking in program history; Wichita State nabbed its best preseason rank in program history, topping its place from 2022.
Mountain Region
Expect another hard-fought battle between defending national champion Northern Arizona and BYU. The Lumberjacks return four top-25 finishers from the 2022 NCAA Championships, which includes both Nico Young and Drew Bosley, who went 1-2 at the regional meet. The Cougars are led by three All-Americans from 2022, including Casey Clinger and Joey Nokes, who both were among the top-10 athletes at the regional meet last year.
No. 3 Colorado, No. 4 Air Force and No. 5 Montana State round out the top-5 teams.
Northeast Region
Defending regional champion Syracuse starts the season at No. 1 with last year’s runner-up Harvard at No. 2. The Orange returns three of its top-5 runners from that team and features six athletes who have gone sub-30 minutes over 10,000 meters. The Crimson are headlined by the talented duo of Graham Blanks and Acer Iverson, who went 1-2 at the regional meet in 2022.
No. 3 Providence, No. 4 Iona and No. 5 Cornell round out the top-5 teams.
South Region
Defending regional champion Tennessee and last year’s third-place team Alabama sit No. 1 and No. 2 to begin the season. The Volunteers lose talented low stick Dylan Jacobs, but are ready to prove their might behind Yaseen Abdalla, Nate Kawalec and Canaan Anderson, among others. The Crimson Tide have a formidable top-3 with Victor Kiprop, Eliud Kipsang and Hillary Cheruiyot, but need to find the depth behind them to make a run at the regional crown.
No. 3 Florida State, No. 4 Ole Miss and No. 5 Auburn round out the top-5 teams.
South Central Region
Arkansas and Texas finished first and second, respectively, at the regional meet last year, but are swapped to begin the season in 2023 with the Longhorns up top. Texas will be a force with four athletes who finished among the top-15 athletes at the regional meet in 2022, headlined by the runner-up Isaac Alonzo and fifth-place man Haftu Knight. Defending individual champion Patrick Kiprop is back for another go-round with the Razorbacks, as is third-place finisher Elias Schreml, among others.
No. 3 Tulane, No. 4 Texas A&M and No. 5 Arkansas State round out the top-5 teams.
Southeast Region
Defending regional champion North Carolina and regional runner-up Virgina sit No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, to begin the season. The Tar Heels welcome back five of the seven athletes from the title-winning squad, including individual runner-up Parker Wolfe. The Cavaliers had four top-25 finishers in 2022 and four of them return, including third-place man Justin Wachtel.
No. 3 NC State, No.4 Eastern Kentucky and No. 5 Duke round out the top-5 teams.
West Region
Defending regional champion Stanford headlines the region to begin the season, while Portland sits in the passenger seat. The Cardinal return three All-Region finishers from last year, headlined by fifth-place athlete Ky Robinson. The Pilots, who finished seventh last year, return five athletes from that team, including top-20 finishers Bradley Peloquin and Matt Strangio.
No. 3 Washington, No. 4 California Baptist and No. 5 Oregon round out the top-5 teams.
