2024 NCAA DII Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 4
NEW ORLEANS – Plenty of NCAA DII teams were in action this weekend, with many at the Paul Short Run and the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic. But which ones made enough of an impression to move in the rankings?
Here is the Week 4 edition of the NCAA DII Women’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 weight 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 Championship Saturday is set for Saturday, November 9.
Atlantic Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 Davis & Elkins, No. 2 Slippery Rock, No. 3 Edinboro
Next in Line: No. 4 Shippensburg
In the Hunt: No. 5 East Stroudsburg
There’s a LOT to talk about with the Atlantic Region this week. No. 1 Davis & Elkins took over the top spot in the region after beating Slippery Rock at the Paul Short Invitational. The Senators finished 15th overall as a team in the College Brown 6k and was second among DII teams (Southeast’s No. 2 team Catawba placed second overall). Slippery Rock placed two runners in the top ten (Anna Igims, 3rd, 21:16 and Ruthie Hughes, 10th, 21:48), but finished just seven points behind Davis & Elkins. No. 4 Shippensburg and No. 5 East Stroudsburg finished right near each other in the same race, placing 20th and 21st respectively, but No. 3 Edinboro’s strong fifth place showing at the Louisville Classic’s Blue 5k vaulted the Fighting Scots over them both.
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 teams in Week 4.
East Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 Roberts Wesleyan, No. 2 Bentley, No. 3 Daeman
Next in Line: No. 4 Southern Connecticut State
In the Hunt: No. 5 St. Anselm
The top-4 in the East remain the same this week. However, No. 5 Saint Anselm moves back into the top-5 after placing eighth overall at the Keene State Invitational.
Midwest Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 GVSU, No. 2 Lewis, No. 3 Walsh
Next in Line: No. 4 Cedarville
In the Hunt: No. 5 Findlay
No. 3 Walsh and No. 4 Cedarville swapped spots this week. Walsh took the week off, but remains undefeated in team competition this season. Meanwhile, Cedarville placed 32nd out of 42 teams in the Women’s College Gold 6K at the Paul Short Invitational. No. 5 Findlay moves into the top 5 after No. 6 Wayne State (Mich.) had a tougher showing at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic, placing 19th out of 27 teams. Findlay didn’t field a full squad at the Ohio Wesleyan University Invitational 6k, but had an impressive performance out of graduate student Hailey Wilson, who placed second individually in 22:19.
South Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 Lee, No. 2 Tampa (Fla.), No. 3 Nova Southeastern
Next in Line: No. 4 Florida Southern
In the Hunt: No. 5 Alabama Huntsville
No. 2 Tampa (Fla.) was all over the place this weekend, which contributed to their jump in the rankings. The Spartans sent their top squad up north to the Paul Short Invitational, placing 37th in the Women’s College Gold 6k. The gold section featured more than 40 NCAA DI teams, and the Spartans held their own. Another group of Tampa runners placed fourth at the Ave Maria Invitational, finishing just behind a full No. 3 Nova Southeastern squad.
South Central Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 Adams State, No. 2 CSU-Pueblo, No. 3 Colorado School of Mines
Next in Line: No. 4 Western Colorado
In the Hunt: No. 5 West Texas A&M
The South Central’s top-4 stays the same this time. No. 1 Adams State returned to action at the Joe Piane Invitational hosted by Notre Dame, placing seventh in the loaded Women’s 5k Blue to keep their spot at the top. But how about No.5 West Texas? The Lady Buffs placed fourth overall at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic this weekend, taking down some big time NCAA DII programs including the South region’s No. 1 team Lee (Tenn.) and last week’s No. 5 team UC-Colorado Springs.
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 teams in Week 4.
West Region
Projected AQs: No. 1 Western Washington, No. 2 Chico State, No. 3 Biola
Next in Line: No. 4 Cal Poly Ponoma
In the Hunt: No. 5 Alaska Fairbanks
The top-3 held strong for the fourth week in a row. However, No. 4 Cal Poly Pomona joins the hunt this week after placing second overall at the DBU Old Glory Gallop 5k. Junior Vivian Martinez ran the third-fastest time in program history with a 17:24 for sixth place.
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.
