2024 NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 6

NEW ORLEANS – NCAA Division II came to run this past weekend. 

Here is the final 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, which is where three teams per region automatically qualify for the upcoming NCAA DII Cross Country Championships.

Atlantic Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 East Stroudsburg

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

Notes: After spending the entire year in the No. 3 position, Shippensburg is up to No. 2. The Raiders took care of business at the PSAC Championships, claiming a resounding victory with 28 points. All it took was a 55 point gap back to No. 4 East Stroudsburg to finally crack the top-2. 

Central Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 East Central (Okla.), No. 2 Northwest Missouri, No. 3 Augustana (S.D.)

Next in Line: No. 4 Pittsburg State

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Neb.-Kearney

Notes: No. 3 Augustana (S.D.) got the memo: it’s time to start peaking. The Vikings ran their way to another NSIC title putting four athletes inside the top-10, including individual champion Ryan Hartman. Not to be lost in the shuffle is the 33 second spread between their top-5. Neb.-Kearney held their own at the MIAA Championships, taking down No. 23 Washburn in the process and earning a bump up to No. 5. 

East Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Assumption

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Wilmington (Del.)

Notes: Saturday afternoon Wilmington was able to call itself CACC champions. Thus, the Wildcats clawed their way into the hunt, completing a gradual journey from unranked to No. 5 in the East Region. 

Midwest Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Hillsdale

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Michigan Tech

Notes: Searching for a can’t miss top-7? Look no further than No. 3 Saginaw Valley State. The Cardinals played to their strengths at the GLIAC Championships, seeing a 27 second spread from 1-5, to finish runner-up behind No. 1 Grand Valley State. Venturing to the G-MAC Championships was No. 4 Hillsdale. The Chargers’ didn’t have to go very far, using a hilly home course to capture their first team title in 24 years, topping Findlay 50-60. 

South Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Mississippi College

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Tampa

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

South Central Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Western Colorado

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Colorado Christian

Notes: The best way to guarantee a rise in the rankings? Beat a program above. No. 3 Adams State did just that, and in commanding fashion. The Grizzlies went toe-to-toe with No. 4 Western Colorado at the RMAC Championships, and emerged on top 45-100, with individual champion Romain Legendre leading the charge. 

Southeast Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Flagler

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Catawba

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

West Region

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

Next in Line: No. 4 Biola (Calif.)

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 CAL Poly Pomona

Notes: What more can be said other than No. 3 Azusa Pacific ran out of their minds at the PacWest Championships? After falling short to No. 4 Biola (Calif.) on a few occasions this season, the Cougars pulled off a 29-44 upset to kick-off the postseason, going 1-2-4-8-14. Jared Wright captured APU’s first individual title with Felix Perrier in tow.