2023 NCAA DII Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 4

NEW ORLEANS – Hello, October!

Here is the Week 4 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 Davis and Elkins, No. 3 Slippery Rock

Next in Line: No. 4 Bloomsburg

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Edinboro

Note: No changes in the top five this week.  

Central Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 U-Mary

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Missouri Southern

Note: No changes in the top five this week.  

East Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Saint Anselm

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Adelphi

Note: No. 4 Saint Anslem soared over No. 5 Adelphi following a head-to-head battle at the Paul Short Invitational. The Hawks were locked in and flew to the finishing chute 36 points ahead of the Panthers. 

Midwest Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Wayne State (Mich.)

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Saginaw Valley State

Note: At this point in the season the No. 2 spot in the Midwest Region is up for grabs. Today it belongs to Lewis as the Flyers boasted a significantly better time total at the National Catholic Invite two weeks ago than Cedarville this past weekend. The Yellow Jackets mustered a 17th-place finish at the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic. 

South Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Palm Beach Atlantic

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Florida Southern

Note: The best way to justify a change in the polls? Beat teams that are ahead. It’s as simple as that. No. 4 Palm Beach Atlantic used that message on Saturday at the FSU XC Invitational, upsetting No. 5 Florida Southern in a definitive manner. 

South Central Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 UC-Colorado Springs

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 CSU-Pueblo

Note: No. 3 Western Colorado earned a bump in the rankings after throwing themselves into the fray at the Chili Pepper Cross Country Festival. The meet featured almost all NCAA DI programs, but the Mountaineers held their ground, posting a third-place finish behind just Arkansas and SMU. 

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 changes in the top five this week.

West Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Western Washington

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Azusa Pacific

Note: The name of the game is depth. Western Washington is built on that measure, hence their rise to the No. 4 spot after No. 5 Azusa Pacific saw a rough performance at the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic.