2023 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 1

NEW ORLEANS – The 2023 season is officially underway!

Here is the week one edition of the NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2023 season, 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 are set for Saturday, November 4.

Atlantic Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Charleston (W.Va.), No. 2 Shippensburg, No. 3 Davis and Elkins

Next in Line: No. 4 Concord (W.Va.)

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Slippery Rock

Note: No. 3 Davis and Elkins documented record-breaking individual and team performances at the Panther Invitational to justify a major climb up the standings. The Senators leapfrogged No. 4 Concord and No. 5 Slippery Rock. 

Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Augustana (S.D.), No. 2 Washburn, No. 3 Missouri Southern

Next in Line: No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 East Central

Note: No changes in the top five this week. 

East Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Southern Connecticut, No. 2 Roberts Wesleyan, No. 3 Franklin Pierce

Next in Line: No. 4 St. Michael’s

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Southern New Hampshire State

Note: Winning easily at the Shaklette Invitational, No. 4 St. Michael’s vaulted over No. 5 SNHU in the rankings. The Purple Knights tallied just 31 points in comparison to the Penman’s 45.

Midwest Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Grand Valley State, No. 2 Saginaw Valley State, No. 3 Illinois Springfield

Next in Line: No. 4 Michigan Tech

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Lewis

Note: No changes in the top five this week. 

South Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Lee (Tenn.), No. 2 Mississippi College, No. 3 Alabama Huntsville

Next in Line: No. 4 Florida Southern

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Tampa (Fla.)

Note: Both No. 4 Florida Southern and No. 5 Tampa jumped up a spot in the South Region rankings. 

South Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Colorado School of Mines, No. 2 Adams State, No. 3 West Texas A&M

Next in Line: No. 4 Colorado Christian

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Western Colorado

Note: No changes in the top five this week. 

Southeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Wingate, No. 2 Anderson (S.C.), No. 3 Augusta (Ga.)

Next in Line: No. 4 Catawba

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Flagler

Note: No changes in the top five this week. 

West Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Chico State, No. 2 Western Washington, No. 3 Azusa Pacific

Next in Line: No. 4 Cal Poly Pomona

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Simon Fraser

Note: No changes in the top five this week.