2023 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 1

NEW ORLEANS – The first few races have not disappointed!

Here is the Week 1 edition of the NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2023 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.

Regional Championships Friday is set for Friday, November 10th.

Great Lakes Region

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

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

Note: Michigan State moves ahead of Ohio State for No. 2 after a victory at the Spartan Invitational against NCAA DII Grand Valley State and Miami (Ohio). 

Mid-Atlantic Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Georgetown, No. 2 West Virginia

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

Note: There were no changes to the top-5 teams. 

Midwest Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Northwestern, No. 4 Minnesota, No. 5 Tulsa

Note: Tulsa enters the top-5 after a fourth-place run at the Cowboy Preview. 

Mountain Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Northern Arizona, No. 2 Colorado

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

Note: Utah moved ahead in the rankings to take the No. 5 position after a strong second-place finish to Utah Valley at the UVU Invitational. 

Northeast Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Columbia, No. 4 Syracuse, No. 5 Northeastern

Notes: Harvard climbed over Columbia to move from No. 3 to No. 2 in Week 1, thanks to a second-place showing behind Princeton at the HYP Meet. 

South Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Ole Miss 

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Florida State, No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Lipscomb

Note: Ole Miss jumps two spots up in Week 1 after winning the Southern Showcase with 50 points, ahead of opponents Auburn and Alabama. 

South Central Region

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

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

Notes: Tulane’s third-place finish at The Southern Showcase ahead of Alabama propelled them up five spots from No. 7 to No. 2. 

Southeast Region

Projected AQs:  No. 1 NC State, No. 2 Virginia

Also in the hunt: No. 3 North Carolina, No. 4 Duke, No. 5 Furman

Notes: Virginia climbed one spot up ahead of UNC to No. 2 after Week 1 after an emphatic victory by a margin of 46 points at the Spider Alumni Invitational, where they bested Georgetown.  Furman enters the top-five with their win at the Furman XC Invitational. 

West Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Washington, No. 4 Oregon State, No. 5 CBU

Notes:  Oregon moving ahead of Stanford for the No. 1 position was the only change after Week 1, with a young squad taking the Ducks to a second-place showing at the Linfield Harrier Classic.