2024 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Preseason

NEW ORLEANS – Cross country is back!

Here is the preseason edition of the NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2024 season, as released on Monday 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 Friday is set for November 15.

Great Lakes Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 2 Michigan State

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 4 Toledo, No. 5 Ohio State

Notes: Three-time reigning champion Notre Dame returns four of its top-5 athletes from last year and adds transfer Emily Covert (50^th last year while at Tennessee) and redshirt freshman Arianne Olson (ACC 10k runner-up last fall). The Spartans feature returner Makenna Veen among eight who have run sub-16:30 for 5k along with freshman Rachel Forsyth (4:17 1500, 10:09 3200 as a prep).

Mid-Atlantic Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Georgetown, No. 2 Penn State

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Penn, No. 4 West Virginia, No. 5 Villanova

Notes: The Hoyas – three-time reigning champs – are poised to dominate with Chloe Scrimgeour (eighth at nationals last year) leading three returners and four grad transfers. The Nittany Lions return four from last year in looking for a repeat national berth.

Midwest Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Oklahoma State, No. 2 Northwestern

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Iowa State, No. 4 Minnesota, No. 5 Bradley

Notes: The Cowgirls lose its top four runners from last year’s third-place national squad, but additions include redshirt frosh Victoria Lagat (15:48.95) and transfer Josephine Wanjiku (35:45.77). Northwestern is led by Ava Earl (15:42.72), with four returners/transfers in the 16:10-16:25 range.

Mountain Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Northern Arizona, No. 2 BYU

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Utah, No. 4 New Mexico, No. 5 Utah Valley

Notes: Strong region expected to be led by the Lumberjacks, who return runners 3-4-5 (led by 20^th-placer Elise Stearns) from the team that finished one point away from a national title. The Cougars return several scorers who had strong track seasons in the spring, including Jenna Hutchins (sixth in the NCAA 10k in 32:44.05).

Northeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Providence, No. 2 Boston College

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Syracuse, No. 4 Harvard, No. 5 Columbia

Notes: Competitive region, with Providence looking to regain the regional title and have solid transfers to mix with six returners, including a fast pair of 1500-meter runners in Kimberley May (4:07.00, NCAA runner-up) and Shannon Flockhart (4:05.99, NCAA sixth-placer). The Eagles also have six returners and finished ahead of the Friars at regionals and nationals last year.

South Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Tennessee

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Lipscomb, No. 5 Ole Miss

Notes: SEC rivals figure prominently as Florida, Tennessee and Alabama finished 5-6-7 at the NCAA Championships last year. All three will replace some scorers with talented runners, with the Vols also sporting a coaching change. Don’t count out Lipscomb (11^th last year) and Ole Miss, yet another national qualifier.

South Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Arkansas, No. 2 Texas A&M

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Tulane, No. 4 SMU, No. 5 LSU

Notes: Arkansas has won this region the last 12 times it was held and is the favorite again as the Razorbacks return three of its top-4 led by 11^th-place finisher Sydney Thorvaldson. The Aggies return four scorers from the squad that was runner-up last year.

Southeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 NC State, No. 2 Virginia

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Furman, No. 4 North Carolina, No. 5 Wake Forest

Notes: Three-time reigning national champions NC State is expected to be tops here. The always-deep Wolfpack return four of its top-7, with three competing as freshmen last year (Leah Stephens, Grace Hartman and Hannah Gapes). Virginia topped Furman at nationals last year, reversing their finish at regionals.

West Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Washington

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Stanford, No. 4 Gonzaga, No. 5 California Baptist

Notes: Oregon kicks off a strong group that includes four top-20 teams from nationals. The Ducks (10^th) and Huskies (8^th) both return six, with the former led by a pair of fast track 5Kers in Maddy Elmore (15:15.79) and Silan Ayyildiz (15:15.84). The Huskies’ top runner, Chloe Foerster, clocked a 4:07.66 this summer in the 1500. Stanford (12^th) returns three of its top-5, while Gonzaga and California Baptist (17^th) bring back all five.