2024 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 3

NEW ORLEANS – It’s the calm before the storm.

Here is the Week 3 edition of the NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2024 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 Saturday is set for November 9.

Atlantic Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Davis & Elkins, No. 2 Charleston (W.Va.), No. 3 Shippensburg

Next in Line: No. 4 Concord

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Indiana (Pa.)

Notes: Charleston (W.Va.)’s streak at the top has come to an end. No. 1 Davis & Elkins dethroned the Golden Eagles following a fantastic performance at the Lock Haven Invitational. The Senators took home the team title for the first time in program history, defeating the No. 21 team in the nation, Walsh, in the process. Indiana (Pa.) reclaimed the No. 5 position after returning to form at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational.  

Central Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 East Central, No. 2 Northwest Missouri, No. 3 Pittsburg State

Next in Line: No. 4 Washburn

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Neb. Kearney

Notes: The Gans Creek Classic was a telling sign for Washburn who held strong at the No. 4 in the midst of Central Region developments. Northwest Missouri seized the No. 2 spot from Pittsburg State who was relegated to No. 3 while Neb. Kearney found their way to the No. 5 position. 

East Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Roberts Wesleyan, No. 2 Southern Connecticut, No. 3 Bentley

Next in Line: No. 4 Caldwell

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Molloy

Notes: Roberts Wesleyan took advantage of an otherwise stagnant weekend in the East Region to swipe the No. 1 spot from Southern Connecticut. The Redhawks went to work on their home course, coming through as the top DII team with 122 points and saw personal bests from their 1-2 punch of Owen White and Zachary Hall. No. 3 Bentley, No. 4 Caldwell, and No. 5 Molloy all slid up a position in the restructure. 

Midwest Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Michigan Tech

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Findlay

Notes: Talk about a breakthrough for No. 5 Findlay. The Oilers are on the Midwest Region radar after a runner-up finish to Atlantic Region No. 1 Davis & Elkins and subsequent victory over nationally ranked Walsh at the Lock Haven Invitational. Simon Derstine is emerging into another frontrunner to go along with All-American Noah Fisher and NCAA qualifier Jordan Foster. 

South Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Lee (Tenn.), No. 2  Alabama-Huntsville, No. 3 Florida Southern

Next in Line: No. 4 Embry Riddle

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Mississippi College

Notes: No. 2 Alabama-Huntsville deserved a bump in the rankings and they got just that. The Chargers proved they could hang with the big dogs at the Chili Pepper Festival, populating the results page just below CSU-Pueblo, who sits at No. 14 nationally. Not to mention, UAH was missing their number five runner, Gabe Henenberger, who has run 24:25.

South Central Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Colo. School of Mines, No. 2 West Texas A&M, No. 3 Western Colorado

Next in Line: No. 4 Adams State

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 CSU Pueblo

Notes: There’s no question about No. 3 Western Colorado’s status. The Mountaineers traveled to Fayetteville, Arkansas, on a mission and exceeded expectations, taking down East Central (Okla.) and CSU-Pueblo, the No. 3 and No. 14 teams in the nation without one of their top-5 guys. 

Southeast Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Wingate, No. 2 Augusta, No. 3 Anderson (S.C.)

Next in Line: No. 4 Catawba

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Flagler

Notes: There were no changes in the top-5.

West Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Chico State, No. 2 Western Washington, No. 3 Biola

Next in Line: No. 4 CAL Poly Pomona

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Azusa Pacific

Notes: There were no changes in the top-5.