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

NEW ORLEANS – The 2023 season is officially underway!

Here is the week two edition of the NCAA DII Women’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 Lock Haven, No. 3 Davis and Elkins

Next in Line: No. 4 Slippery Rock

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Edinboro

Note: No changes in the top-5 this week. 

Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Winona State, No. 2 Augustana (S.D.), No. 3 Pittsburg State

Next in Line: No. 4 Minnesota Duluth

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Missouri Southern

Note: No. 3 Pittsburg State took home the trophy at the Southern Stampede this weekend in a field highlighted by nationally ranked talent. The Gorillas defeated the likes of Tampa, Missouri Southern, and Mississippi College with a lethal 25-second spread. No. 4 Minnesota Duluth shifted up one slot after coasting to a win at the UMD Open. 

East Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Roberts Wesleyan, No. 2 Southern Connecticut, No. 3 Southern New Hampshire

Next in Line: No. 4 Adelphi

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Saint Michael’s

Note: No. 1 Roberts Wesleyan outlasted No. 2 Southern Connecticut to swipe the top spot in the East Region this week, but the biggest news was Adelphi’s rise up the leaderboard to No. 4. The Panthers put on a show at the UMass Dartmouth 5k, as sisters Isabel and Katherine Marsh shattered records. 

Midwest Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Lewis

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Saginaw Valley State

Note: No. 1 Grand Valley State retained its crown this week while the rest of the Midwest sustained quite a shakeup. No. 2 Cedarville and No. 3 Wayne State (Mich.) swapped positions as the Yellowjackets clung to a one point victory despite missing Savannah Ackley (41st at NCAA’s last year). No. 4 Lewis traded places with No. 5 Saginaw Valley State as the Flyers trounced a group of Mid Major schools and nearly upset the host, Loyola (Ill.). 

South Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Florida Southern

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Palm Beach Atlantic

Note: No. 4 Florida Southern continued its gradual ascent up the rankings with quick times on a fast course this Saturday. The Moccasins justified their step-by-step development by beating out teams such as Alabama-Huntsville and Montevallo. 

South Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Adams State, No. 2 Colo. School of Mines, No. 3 UC-Colorado Springs

Next in Line: No. 4 Western Colorado

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 CSU-Pueblo

Note: No changes in the top-5 this week.  

Southeast Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Flagler

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Lincoln Memorial

Note: No. 5 Lincoln Memorial busted into the rankings with a head-to-head win over Converse at their home meet by 17 points. 

West Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Stanislaus, No. 2 Chico State, No. 3 Biola (Calif.)

Next in Line: No. 4 Azusa Pacific

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Western Washington

Note: No changes in the top-5 this week.