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

NEW ORLEANS – Conference weekend did not disappoint!

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Bloomsburg

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Edinboro

Note: The Atlantic Region is broken down into two primary conferences, the Mountain East and PSAC. With the championships this past weekend, it’s only right that the winners of both sit atop the standings. Due to this rationale, Slippery Rock leapfrogged No. 3 Davis and Elkins to steal the No. 2 position. Happy to climb aboard the same ranking train, Bloomsburg shot up to the No. 4 spot, posting a runner-up finish at the PSAC. 

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 Southern Connecticut State, No. 2 Roberts Wesleyan, No. 3 Adelphi

Next in Line: No. 4 Daemen 

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

Note: First, second, eighth. That trio is what led No. 3 Adelphi to a second place finish at the NE10 Championship on Saturday morning. The Panthers stalked No. 1 Southern Connecticut State for the entire 6k but eventually succumbed to their rivals by 11 points. Over at the ECC Championship, No. 4 Daemen fell prey to a similar outcome. The wildcats mustered up an admirable performance but couldn’t quite catch No. 2 Roberts Wesleyan. 

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: No changes in the top five this week. 

South Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Nova Southeastern

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Palm Beach Atlantic

Note: A good taper is key to a successful postseason run. No. 4 Nova Southeastern seems to have that all figured out. The Sharks recorded a runner-up finish at the Sunshine State Conference Championship, behind only No. 2 Tampa, who had the individual victor, Aspen Gordon. 

South Central Region

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

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 CSU-Pueblo

Note: No. 4 West Texas A&M put on a show at the Lone Star Conference Championship. While the rest of the top five duked it out at the RMAC Championship, the Buffs captured their first team title in ten years, highlighted by the lowest score in school history at 20 points. 

Southeast Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Converse

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Lenoir-Rhyne

Note: No. 4 Converse is the talk of the town after nabbing the trophy at the Conference Carolinas Championship. The Valkyries had a day to remember, logging eight all-conference performances, setting 14 PRs, and conquering their first championship in program history. Lenoir Rhyne hopped up to No. 5 following a strong display at the SAC Championship. The Bears failed to match the firepower of No. 1 Wingate or No. 3 Catawba, yet managed to chase down and overtake Anderson (S.C.).  

West Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 CUI

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Azusa Pacific

Note: When the entire region is split on conference championship weekend, it’s hard to pick a pole-sitter. No. 1 Western Washington earned that honor on a tough, hilly course in Anchorage, Alaska. The Vikings gritted their way to a dominant GNAC Championship win, exhibiting their ceaseless depth with a 35 second spread. Biola slid into the No. 3 spot after firing on all cylinders at PacWest Championship. The Eagles led the entire way, knocking off CUI by 11 points.