2024 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 1

NEW ORLEANS — Finally some racing!

Here is the Week 1 edition of the NCAA Division I 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 team’s 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 Friday, November 15.

Great Lakes Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 2 Wisconsin

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

Notes: As of late, the Fighting Irish have established themselves as the team to beat in the Great Lakes Region, coming into the 2024 season as the three-time defending regional champions. Notre Dame didn’t run a full squad at the Winrow-Valparaiso Open, but freshmen Addison Knoblauch, Reagan Riley and Kaleigh Gunsiorowski led the squad to the team title over fellow region foe Purdue, 43-48. 

After an impressive runner-up finish at the Fighting Illini Big 10 Preview, the Wisconsin Badgers moved up to No. 2 in the region, thanks to Winona State transfer Lindsay Cunningham’s stellar debut.

Mid-Atlantic Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Princeton, No. 4 Pittsburgh, No. 5 Penn

Notes: Winners of three consecutive Mid-Atlantic Region titles, the Georgetown Hoyas continue to sit atop the rankings after a pair of early season meets. They lost a a pair of seniors to graduation, but the Hoyas reloaded with four transfers and a tremendous freshman class. 

Following a strong team win over eight region foes, the Penn State Nittany Lions remain the No. 2 team in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Midwest Region

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

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

Notes: After picking up the team win at the Fighting Illini Big 10 Preview, the Northwestern Wildcats overtook the Oklahoma State Cowgirls as the top team in the Midwest Region. Led by senior Ava Earl, the ‘Cats packed three runners into the top-5 and all five scoring runners into the top-20 finishers, posting a final score of 40. 

Oklahoma State hosted their annual Cowboy Preview and finished runner-up to Texas A&M, 39-46. 

Mountain Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Northern Arizona, No. 2 Brigham Young

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

Notes: In their first cross country race since coming a point shy of winning the program’s first national title, the Northern Arizona women took spots No. 2 through No. 12 at their home opener, the George Kyte Classic. The Lumberjacks showcased a handful of talent, from senior Maggi Congdon, to transfer Alex Carlson, to freshman Ava Mitchell. 

BYU, the 2023 region runner-ups, debuted a few All-Americans as Jenna Hutchins, Lexy Halladay-Lowry and Riley Chamberlain posted a 1-2-3 finish at its own Autumn Classic, which it won over in-region foes Utah Valley and Utah State. 

Northeast Region

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

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

Notes: After a berth to the 2023 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships and a third-place Northeast Region finish, the Providence women are looking to build off of their momentum from the track season and put themselves in a great position come November. At the Providence Friar XC Invitational, 2024 1500m All-American Shannon Flockhart and senior Laura Mooney went 1-2 as the Friars won the team title by 35 points. 

Boston College has not raced yet this season, but return six of their top seven. 

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: As they enter into their ‘post-Parker Valby’ era, the Florida Gators remain atop the South Region, just ahead of No. 2 Tennessee and No. 3 Alabama. All three SEC teams finished in the top-10 at the NCAA Championships last November, and all three lost key pieces while adding talented replacements. 

Both Florida and Tennessee didn’t race full squads in their respective season openers, but posted strong results.

South Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Arkansas, No. 2 SMU

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Tulane, No. 5 LSU

Notes: Arkansas, who hasn’t lost the South Central Region title in more than a decade, kept their rightful spot at No. 1. A few Razorbacks traveled to Colombia, Missouri, for the Mizzou Opener where they finished runner-up to Missouri by eight points.

In their first-ever 5000m race as an ACC school, the Mustangs of SMU picked up a statement win at the Texas A&M Invitational, beating a contingent of SEC and Big 12 programs. Led by seniors Kaitlyn Gearin and Emily Little, SMU took down the Aggies on their own course, along with three other South Central squads. 

Southeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 NC State, No. 2 North Carolina

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Virginia, No. 4 Clemson, No. 5 Furman

Notes: The three-time defending national champions and queens of the Southeast Region haven’t made their 2024 debut yet, but a star-studded freshman class and the addition of six-time Division III champion Fiona Smith, the Wolfpack are as fierce as ever. 

North Carolina got their season off to a strong start at the Virginia Invitational, winning 23-33.

West Region

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

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

Notes: After an early season dual meet with their in-state rival Oregon State, the Oregon Ducks showcased a few of their stars along with their stellar freshman class. Senior Anika Thompson and junior Mia Barnett went 1-2 over 5k, leading the squad to the team title. True freshman Ali Ince led the way for their newcomers, placing fifth. 

Washington, who finished third in the West Region a year ago, has not raced this season but is set to return six of their seven runners from last year as they contend for some hardware.