2023 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 3

NEW ORLEANS – This season keeps getting better.

Here is the week three 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 Slippery Rock, No. 3 Davis and Elkins

Next in Line: No. 4 Shippensburg

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Concord

Note: Slippery Rock jumped into the No. 2 spot following a third place finish at the Lock Haven Invitational. The Atlantic Region preview saw four Slippery Rock athletes cross the line in 24:40 or faster, all within the top-20, to help take down No. 3 Davis and Elkins.

Central Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Pittsburg State

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Northwest Missouri

Note: No changes in the top five this week.   

East Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Daemen

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Assumption

Note: No. 4 Daemen rode east to Rochester, New York, for a multidivisional clash over the weekend that featured DIII No. 5 SUNY Geneseo. The Wildcats fell short of the Knights, but put on a show against the rest of the field leading to their surge up the charts.

Midwest Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Grand Valley State, No. 2 Saginaw Valley, No. 3 Wayne State (Mich.)

Next in Line: No. 4 Cedarville

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Walsh

Note: Wayne State (Mich.) made its biggest move yet, rushing into the No. 3 position following a runner-up performance at the Roy Griak Invitational. The Warriors beat Augustana (S.D.), Michigan Tech, and UC-Colorado Springs, three nationally ranked squads, to advance four notches. Not to be forgotten, Walsh stole the No. 5 spot after nearly upsetting the top dog in the Atlantic Region, Charleston (W.Va.). 

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 changes in the top five this week.  

South Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Colorado School of Mines, No. 2 Adams State, No. 3 Colorado Christian

Next in Line: No. 4 West Texas A&M

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Western Colorado

Note: No. 3 Colorado Christian bumped West Texas A&M down to the No. 4 spot. 

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 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 Alaska Anchorage

Note: Though No. 2 Western Washington closed out the day with a win at the Bill Roe Classic, No. 5 Alaska Anchorage proved to be quite the challenge, hence the brand new top-5 label. A trio of veterans anchored the Seawolves to a runner-up finish, just 14 points off the hosts.