2024 NCAA DII Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 3
NEW ORLEANS – October is here, and so is Week 3’s edition of the NCAA DII Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2024 season. They were 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 AQs: No. 1 Slippery Rock, No. 2 Davis & Elkins, No. 3 Shippensburg
Next in Line: No. 4 Kutztown
In the Hunt: No. 5 Edinboro
There were no changes to the top 5 in week 3.
Central Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 Augustana (S.D.), No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney, No. 3 Pittsburg State
Next in Line: No. 4 U-Mary
In the Hunt: No. 5 Winona State
There were no changes to the top 5 in week 3.
East Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 Roberts Wesleyan, No. 2 Bentley, No. 3 Daeman
Next in Line: No. 4 Southern CT State
In the Hunt: No. 5 Jefferson
Well, things just got interesting in the East! No. 1 Roberts Wesleyan was ranked seventh last week, but an impressive second place finish at the Harry F. Invitational secured them this week’s top spot. The future is looking bright for the Redhawks, with two freshmen scoring for the team as they finished behind just NCAA DI program Cornell. No. 4 Southern Connecticut falls out of the top spot, but the Owls don’t race until October 11. No. 2 Bentley, No. 3 Daeman, and No. 5 Jefferson hold on to their spots from last week.
Midwest Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 GVSU, No. 2 Lewis, No. 3 Cedarville
Next in Line: No. 4 Walsh
In the Hunt: No. 5 Wayne State (Mich.)
The top three hold strong for the third week in a row. No. 4 and No. 5, however, trade spots, as No. 4 Walsh won the Lock Haven Invitational. It’s the Cavs’ third team win in a row this season. No. 5 Wayne State (Mich) took this week off, but shifted down one spot with Walsh’s strong performance.
South Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 Lee, No. 2 Florida Southern, No. 3 Nova Southeastern
Next in Line: No. 4 Tampa
In the Hunt: No. 5 Alabama Huntsville
The South’s top 4 squads stay the same this week, but there’s movement for that fifth spot once again. No. 5 Alabama Huntsville joins the party after competing at the Chile Pepper XC Festival’s 5k. The Chargers placed 18th among a plethora of NCAA DI squads, with senior Aylin Vega leading the way in a new personal best 18:32.
South Central Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 Adams State, No. 2 CSU Pueblo, No. 3 Colo. School of Mines
Next in Line: No. 4 Western Colorado
In the Hunt: No. 5 UCCS
Things got spicy in the South Central region this week, after No. 2 CSU-Pueblo and No. 4 Western Colorado duked it out at the Chile Pepper XC Festival. CSU-Pueblo came out on top this time, placing fourth as a team overall – just behind NCAA DI powerhouses Texas, LSU, and Arkansas. Western Colorado kept it close by placing sixth as a team, but was still nearly 80 points behind CSU-Pueblo in the team score. It’s worth mentioning that senior Leah Taylor had a monster performance for the Mountaineers, placing fourth individually in a huge personal best of 16:28. No. 3 Colorado School of Mines quietly snuck into the third spot, but did take the week off.
Southeast Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 Wingate, No. 2 Catawba, No. 3 Flagler
Next in Line: No. 4 Lincoln Memorial
In the Hunt: No. 5 Anderson
There were no changes to the top 5 in week 3.
West Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 Western Washington, No. 2 Chico State, No. 3 Biola
Next in Line: No. 4 Alaska Fairbanks
In the Hunt: No. 5 Cal State Stanislaus
There were no changes to the top 5 in week 3.
Taylor Mascetta is an aspiring sports journalist and a recent graduate of Syracuse University’s master’s program in Broadcast and Digital Journalism. She competed for both Syracuse and Fordham University’s track and field teams over a 5-year NCAA career, which forged her deep passion for the sport both on and off the track. She now works as an announcer with the Armory Track and Field Center, a content creator with the Magic Boost program, and has additional experience covering the NFL and college basketball. You can follow Mascetta’s reporting journey on her X account @TMascettaTV or Instagram @taytay929.
