2023 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 6

NEW ORLEANS – Conference weekend did not disappoint!

Here is the Week Six 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 Slippery Rock

Next in Line: No. 4 Davis and Elkins

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Concord

Note: No changes in the top five this week.  

Central Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Minnesota Duluth

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Washburn

Note: No. 2 Pittsburg State found their mojo at the perfect time. The Gorillas jumped three slots following a win at the MIAA Championship over No. 5 Washburn. Meanwhile, No. 4 Minnesota Duluth came out of nowhere to nab second at the NSIC Championship behind No. 3 Augustana (S.D.). The Bulldogs nearly upset the Augies with a SINGLE DIGIT SPREAD that is sure to come in handy at the Regional Championship. 

East Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Southern Connecticut State, No. 2 Roberts Wesleyan, No. 3 Daemen

Next in Line: No. 4 Wilmington (De.)

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Franklin Pierce

Note: The East Region is a rollercoaster and the ride just keeps getting wilder. Southern Connecticut State stole the No. 1 position from No. 2 Roberts Wesleyan following a victory at the NE10 Championship. With the addition of yet another low stick, the Owls documented a nearly 40 point gap to No. 5 Franklin Pierce. Simultaneously, Daemen and Wilmington (De.) surged to No. 3 and No. 4 in the rankings. The Wildcats from New York pounced on a chance to seize a silver medal at the ECC Championship while the Wildcats from Delaware leaped to the top of the podium at the CACC Championship.

Midwest Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Walsh

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Wayne State (Mich.)

Note: It takes courage to go out hard and try to hold on at a championship meet. No. 3 Saginaw Valley State did just that, and it paid off handsomely. The Cardinals gave No. 1 Grand Valley State a run for their money at the GLIAC Championship before submitting to the eventual winners. Perhaps even more impressive was the rift between teammates that disappeared heading into the final kilometer of the race.  

South Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Florida Southern

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Embry Riddle

Note: No. 2 Alabama-Huntsville and No. 3 Mississippi College went head-to-head at the GSC Championship and it did not disappoint. In a bit of a surprise, the Choctaws got the best of the Chargers 59-62. This battle isn’t over quite yet however, as the two units will face-off at the South Region Championships in a couple weekends. Joining them will be No. 4 Florida Southern who captured the Sunshine State Conference title with ease, tallying just 28 points. 

South Central Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Colorado Christian

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 West Texas A&M

Note: Western Colorado rose to the challenge, and the No. 3 spot, after a blistering showing at the RMAC Championship. Though the Mountaineers fell to No. 1 Colorado School of Mines and No. 2 Adams State in the end, the attention should be on how close they came to toppling the cross country titans. The Grizzlies averaged just two seconds faster and sneaked ahead by 10 points. 

Southeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Wingate, No. 2 Augusta, No. 3 Flagler

Next in Line: No. 4 Catawba

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 UNC Pembroke

Note: No. 2 Augusta prevailed to win their fifth straight PBC Championships, but don’t let that distract from No. 3 Flagler’s valiant effort. The Saints placed all five scorers in the top-25 just one year after being swept by the Jags, hence their rise up the charts. Over in Charlotte, North Carolina, UNC Pembroke held off any and all contenders to take gold at the Conference Carolinas Championship and move to No. 5. The Braves defeated Belmont Abbey by 13 points. 

West Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 CAL Poly Pomona

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Alaska Anchorage

Note: No changes in the top five this week.