2023 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 2

NEW ORLEANS – The 2023 season is officially underway!

Here is the Week 2 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 Slippery Rock

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Concord

Note: No. 4 Slippery Rock leapfrogged No. 5 Concord this weekend, reflecting a second place finish at the RMU Invitational behind only NCAA Division I University, Bucknell. Shippensburg transfer Joseph Cintavey paced his way to runner-up honors in his debut, driving the Rock above Robert Morris and IUP. 

Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Augustana (S.D.), No. 2 Nebraska Kearney, No. 3 East Central (Okla.)

Next in Line: No. 4 Pittsburg State

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Northwest Missouri

Note: No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney are back where they were at the end of last season. With a 44 second spread in their arsenal, the Lopers were not loping around at the Greeno/Dirksen Invitational. No. 3 East Central (Okla.) saw some movement of their own, and rightly so. The Tigers defeated not one, not two, not even three … but four nationally-ranked squads at the Missouri Southern Stampede.   

East Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Saint Michael’s

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Assumption

Note: Roberts Wesleyan swooped in to steal the No. 1 spot this week. No. 2 Franklin Pierce promptly followed as UMD Invite individual champion Wondu Summa led the Ravens past Southern Connecticut State. No. 5 Assumption bounded up and into the hunt after conquering Southern New Hampshire. 

Midwest Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Grand Valley State, No. 2 Saginaw Valley State, No. 3 Michigan Tech

Next in Line: No. 4 Lewis

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Cedarville

Note: Michigan Tech, Lewis, and Cedarville improved their spots to No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, with strong performances this past weekend. 

South Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Embry Riddle (Fla.)

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Florida Southern

Note: No. 4 Embry Riddle skipped up the charts with a second-place display at their home meet. The Eagles fell to just Seton Hall, an NCAA Division I school, while comfortably taking care of Flagler. 

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-5 this week. 

Southeast Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Catawba

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Flagler

Note: No changes in the top-5 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 Fresno Pacific

Note: Fresno Pacific snuck into the No. 5 spot with a solid performance at the UC Riverside Invitational. The Sunbirds captured 12th place in a field chalk full of competition.