2025 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 4

NEW ORLEANS – There were some big changes to the regional rankings following the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and the Pre-National Invitational.

Here is the newest edition of the 2025 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings, which were 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.

All of these teams have November 14, Regional Championships Friday, circled on their calendar as they hope to clinch one of the two automatic qualifier spots in their region. Those two qualifiers, along with at-large teams will take on the 2025 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 22, in Columbia, Missouri. 

Great Lakes Region

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

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

Notes: Notre Dame remains atop the Great Lakes Region following their second-place finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational. The Fighting Irish had two in the top ten with sophomore Mary Bonner Dalton placing fourth overall while freshman Amaya Aramini was behind her in eight with both women blazing sub-20-minute times. The rest of their top five all finished within the top fifty as Notre Dame averaged 20:11 over 6k. 

Wisconsin moves up one spot this week into second, after an 11^th place team finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational. The Badger defeated No. 3 Michigan State by 20 points, propelling their movement into a projected automatic-qualifier spot. Senior Leane Willemse was their low stick, placing 34^th with a 20:29. Wisconsin’s top five averaged 20:51 with just a 33 second gap between 1-5. 

Mid-Atlantic Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 West Virginia, No. 2 Georgetown

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

Notes: West Virginia retains their spot at the top of the Mid-Atlantic this week as they placed fourth at the Nuttycombe Invitational. The Mountaineers fended off regional rivals No. 2 Georgetown and No. 3 Penn State who were not too far behind their 190-point tally. Joy Naukot was the top finisher for West Virginia, running 19:56 for tenth place. Mercy Kinyanjui was not far behind, running 20:11 for 17^th. The Mountaineers averaged 20:26 with three in the top 25 but had a relatively large gap from third to fourth as they had a 1-5 spread of 1:03. 

Georgetown leaps both Penn State and Villanova this week into the second automatic qualifying spot. The Hoyas, ranked fourth last week, placed sixth at the Nuttycombe Invitational, just four points ahead of the Nittany Lions. Melissa Riggins led the way, running 20:13 for 19^th as Georgetown put four in the top 40. 

Midwest Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Oklahoma State, No. 4 Missouri, No. 5 Bradley

Notes: Iowa State claims the top spot in the Midwest this week with their third-place finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational. The Cyclones were led by Mercyline Kirwa’s fifth place finish in which she ran 19:44. Maelle Porcher and Betty Kipkore ran 20:04 and 20:05 respectively for 13^th and 14^th place finishes. The debut of Mercy Kibet helped Iowa State quite a bit as she finished 29^th overall. The Cyclones still have Belle Heikes, the sub-16 5k and All-Midwest runner, at their disposal as they enter the post-season.

Northwestern returned to an automatic qualifying spot this week following their fifth place finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational. The Wildcats did not place any runner in the top 20, but their 1-5 spread of just 26 seconds, elevated them above some of the nation’s best. Ava Criniti’s 20:21 and 23^rd place finish was their best on the day as they averaged 20:35. 

Mountain Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 BYU, No. 2 New Mexico

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Utah, No. 4 Colorado, No. 5 Northern Arizona

Notes: BYU stays atop the Mountain region this week after a dominant performance at Gans Creek where they scored just 25 points against numerous ranked foes. The high school phenom, Jane Hedengren destroyed the field, running 18:42 for 6k, which is a course record by 25 seconds. The Cougars put six in the top ten to go 1-3-6-7-8, completing their scoring before most teams could get a single runner in. BYU averaged 19:42 and had a 1-5 spread of 1:04, which was, in part, created by Hedengren’s record breaking performance. 

New Mexico retains their second position, as they placed ninth at the Nuttycombe Invitational. Still without Pamela Kosgei, the Lobos averaged 20:44, led by Marion Jepngetich’s 20:10, good for 16^th place overall. They struggled to close the gap between 1-5, with a 1-5 spread of 1:02, ultimately holding them back from a higher finish. 

Northeast Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Harvard, No. 4 Providence, No. 5 Yale

Notes: Boston College is still the top team in the Northeast as they placed seventh at the Pre-National Invitational. The senior duo of Imogen Gardiner and Kyra Holland led the way for the Eagles, as they placed 13^th and 21^st, running 19:51 and 20:01 respectively. As a team, Boston College averaged 20:36 with a large 1-5 spread of 1:20 enroute to scoring 306 points. 

Syracuse leaps over Providence to claim the second automatic qualifying spot this week, as they are coming off a 23^rd place finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational. The Orange did not place a single runner in the top 50, with their highest finisher being Selma Anderson in 52^nd. Their 21:17 average and 564 points elevated them above regional foes Harvard and Providence who placed 27^th and 28^th respectively, both over 100 points behind Syracuse. 

South Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Florida State, No. 5 Mississippi State

Notes: Florida remains at the top of the South region this week, still riding high from their win at the Gans Creek Classic back in September. This week, at the Pre-National Invitational, the Gators sent out a B-team and placed 13^th overall with a 20:51 average. In September they averaged 19:40 which would put them second behind BYU’s 19:24 from Pre-Nationals this past weekend. 

Tennessee moves up a spot this week after a fourth place showing at the Pre-National Invitational. The Volunteers, were the top finisher from the South, taking down Florida State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Florida in the process. Mary Ogwoka was their top finisher, placing fourth overall in a very talented field, running 19:27. Those behind her ran relatively close together, keeping a 2-5 spread of just 31 seconds. Tennessee was only three points from a podium finish, nearly snatching it away from conference rival Missouri as they moved up 27 places in the last kilometer. 

South Central Region

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

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

Notes: Tulane holds onto their top spot this week, despite the South Central seeing some big changes. The Green Wave placed second overall in Tuscaloosa this weekend, averaging 20:23 on a 5.87k course. Blezzin Kimutai was their low stick, running 19:31 for fifth place. Dorcas Naibei was just a few spots behind, running 20:12 for 11^th place. 

Arkansas leaps from fourth to second in this week’s rankings following an eighth-place finish at the Pre-National Invitational. The Razorbacks had a strong top three spearheaded by Sydney Thorvaldson’s 19:51 for 12^th place. Josphine Mwaura and Olivia Pielemeier were close behind running 20:01 and 20:22 respectively for 22^nd and 34^th place. Arkansas’ 309 points were enough to take down regional rival Texas, who fell from second to fourth in this week’s poll. 

Southeast Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 South Carolina, No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 5 Clemson

Notes: NC State remains the top-ranked team in the Southeast following their team title at the Nuttycombe Invitational this past weekend. The Wolfpack were dominant in Madison, scoring 41 points, over 80 ahead of second place Notre Dame. Grace Hartman and Angelina Napoleon went 1-2, running 19:30 and 19:34 respectively as NC State put three in the top ten and five in the top twenty enroute to averaging 19:48. With four under 20 minutes and a 1-5 spread of just 41 seconds, the Wolfpack will be a difficult team to beat for their Southeast rivals.

Virginia stays at second, as the Cavaliers are coming off a first-place finish at their home course, Panorama Farms. Gillian Bushee was their top finisher, running 20:09 for third place.  The Cavaliers placed four in the top ten, going 3-5-9-10-11 for 33 points, enough to knock off state and regional rivals Virginia Tech by over 30 points. 

West Region

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

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Washington, No. 4 Washington State, No. 5 Gonzaga

Notes: Oregon retains their spot at the top of the West following a first place finish at the Bill Dellinger Invite. It was a near sweep for the Ducks as they scored just 16 points, going 1-2-3-4-6 and placing six in the top ten. Diana Cherotich had a run away victory, blazing 18:58 for 6k, over 40 seconds ahead second place. The Ducks averaged 19:47 enroute to a 71-point win state and regional rival Oregon State. 

Stanford keeps their spot in second this week as the Cardinal come off a eighth place finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational. They were led by Sophia Kennedy who ran 19:48 for seventh place. As a team the Cardinal averaged 20:35, scoring 250 points, enough to take down regional rivals Washington, Washington State, Gonzaga, and CBU. Stanford’s performance in Madison, over 100 points ahead of Washington, places them in a strong position going into the postseason.