Defending National Champs Fall in NCAA DII Regional Rankings

By Kyle Terwillegar, USTFCCCA

September 22, 2015   

NEW ORLEANS – For the first time since 2011, there is a new No. 1 women’s cross country team in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region.
Grand Valley State – the three-time defending national champion and winners in four of the past five years – has been knocked from its perch atop the region by GLIAC rival national No. 2 Hillsdale, headlining the second regular-season edition of the Regional Rankings announced Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Regional Rankings Summary PDF | Division II XC Rankings Central
Week-by-Week All-Time Regional Rankings
QUICK LINKS: Men’s Regions | Women’s Regions
Competing head-to-head in the Michigan State Spartan Invitational on Friday, Hillsdale outclassed GVSU, 77-136, as the meet’s third- and fourth-place teams, respectively. Led by fourth-place Emily Oren and sixth-place Kristina Galat, five Chargers finished in the top-35 compared to just three for the Lakers.
This marks the first time since week five of the 2011 that GVSU isn’t the region’s top team. The Lakers, coming off their first national crown in 2010, were ranked behind Ferris State for five straight weeks before ultimately winning the region and finishing third at NCAAs.
However, while individual national champion hopefuls Oren and Galat looked strong for the Chargers, GVSU ran without the actual reigning national champion in Kendra Foley. Assuming the defending champ on board for the Lakers later this season, these two teams are likely much closer than this weekend’s score indicates.
Will this translate to a new No. 1 in Wednesday’s National Coaches’ Poll? Find out Wednesday by noon ET on USTFCCCA.org.
Other than the GVSU women dropping to No. 2, the only other new second-ranked squad was the men of East Central (Okla.), who roared up an impressive seven spots from a week ago in the Central Region. The Tigers won the Missouri Southern Stampede/Pre-Nationals in Joplin, Missouri – home of the 2015 NCAA Division II Championships on November 21 – by three points over regional foe Neb.-Kearney, 121-124.
New No. 3 squads include the Franklin Pierce men in the three-bid East Region, UNC Pembroke’s men in the three-bid Southeast, the Bellarmine women in the Midwest, the UC-Colorado Springs women in the South Central, and the Western Washington women in the West.
Three teams not only joined the rankings this week, but catapulted themselves into regional contention. National Athlete of the Week Kelsey Bruce led the Dallas Baptist women from unranked to No. 4 in the South Central; the Saginaw Valley State men went from not ranked to No. 4 in the Midwest; and the Florida Tech women leapt to No. 5 in the South.
Also new to the rankings this week were the men of Mercyhurst (Atlantic), Cedarville (Midwest), Valdosta State (South), and Humboldt State (West); and the women of Indiana (Pa.), Ferris State (Midwest), West Florida (South), Eastern New Mexico (South Central), Columbus State and Young Harris (Southeast), and Point Loma Nazarene (West).
NCAA Division II Regional Championships will be held around the country on Saturday, November 7 with the NCAA Championships happening two weeks later in Joplin, Missouri.
USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country 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 in determining predicted team finishes at the NCAA Regional Championships.

USTFCCCA NCAA Division II
Men’s Cross Country Regional Team Rankings
2015 Week #2 — September 22
national rankings release: September 23
next regional release: September 29
ATLANTIC Region (3 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Lock Haven	Lock Haven, Pa.	PSAC	1
2	Shippensburg	Shippensburg, Pa.	PSAC	2
3	Indiana (Pa.)	Indiana, Pa.	PSAC	3
4	Edinboro	Edinboro, Pa.	PSAC	4
5	Slippery Rock	Slippery Rock, Pa.	PSAC	5
6	East Stroudsburg	East Stroudsburg, Pa.	PSAC	7
7	Kutztown	Kutztown, Pa.	PSAC	6
8	West Chester	West Chester, Pa.	PSAC	8
9	Mansfield	Mansfield, Pa.	PSAC	9
10	Mercyhurst	Erie, Pa.	PSAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Lock Haven, 2013: Lock Haven, 2012: Edinboro, 2011: Edinboro, 2010: Lock Haven
CENTRAL Region (5 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Augustana (S.D.)	Sioux Falls, S.D.	NSIC	1
2	East Central (Okla.)	Ada, Okla.	Great American	9
3	Neb.-Kearney	Kearney, Neb.	MIAA	3
4	Pittsburg State	Pittsburg, Kan.	MIAA	7
5	Northwest Missouri	Maryville, Mo.	MIAA	4
6	Harding	Searcy, Ark.	Great American	10
7	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls, S.D.	NSIC	2
8	Fort Hays State	Hays, Kan.	MIAA	5
9	MSU Moorhead	Moorhead, Minn.	NSIC	6
10	Southwest Baptist	Bolivar, Mo.	MIAA	8
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Augustana (S.D.), 2013: Augustana (S.D.), 2012: Augustana (S.D.), 2011: Adams State, 2010: Adams State
EAST Region (3 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Stonehill	Easton, Mass.	Northeast-10	1
2	Roberts Wesleyan	Chili, N.Y.	East Coast	2
3	Franklin Pierce	Rindge, N.H.	Northeast-10	4
4	American International	Springfield, Mass.	Northeast-10	3
5	Southern New Hampshire	Manchester, N.H.	Northeast-10	6
6	Bentley	Waltham, Mass.	Northeast-10	5
7	Merrimack	North Andover, Mass.	Northeast-10	7
8	Southern Connecticut	New Haven, Conn.	Northeast-10	9
9	Adelphi	Garden City, N.Y.	Northeast-10	8
10	Nyack	Nyack, N.Y.	CACC	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: American International, 2013: Stonehill, 2012: American International, 2011: UMass Lowell, 2010: UMass Lowell
MIDWEST Region (5 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Grand Valley State	Allendale, Mich.	GLIAC	1
2	Southern Indiana	Evansville, Ind.	GLVC	2
3	UW-Parkside	Kenosha, Wis.	GLVC	3
4	Saginaw Valley State	Bay City, Mich.	GLIAC	NR
5	Malone	Canton, Ohio	GLIAC	6
6	Bellarmine	Louisville, Ky.	GLVC	9
7	Ashland	Ashland, Ohio	GLIAC	4
8	Cedarville	Cedarville, Ohio	G-MAC	NR
9	Indianapolis	Indianapolis, Ind.	GLVC	8
10	Walsh	North Canton, Ohio	GLIAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Grand Valley State, 2013: Grand Valley State, 2012: Grand Valley State, 2011: Grand Valley State, 2010: Grand Valley State
SOUTH Region (3 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Lee (Tenn.)	Cleveland, Tenn.	Gulf South	1
2	Saint Leo	Saint Leo, Fla.	Sunshine	2
3	Alabama-Huntsville	Huntsville, Ala.	Gulf South	3
4	West Alabama	Livingston, Ala.	Gulf South	7
5	Florida Southern	Lakeland, Fla.	Sunshine	4
6	Tampa	Tampa, Fla.	Sunshine	6
7	Nova Southeastern	Davie, Fla.	Sunshine	5
8	West Florida	Pensacola, Fla.	Gulf South	8
9	Florida Tech	Melbourne, Fla.	Sunshine	9
10	Valdosta State	Valdosta, Ga.	Gulf South	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Florida Southern, 2013: Florida Southern, 2012: Nova Southeastern, 2011: Alabama-Huntsville, 2010: Harding
SOUTH CENTRAL Region (6 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Adams State	Alamosa, Colo.	RMAC	1
2	Colorado Mines	Golden, Colo.	RMAC	2
3	Western State	Gunnison, Colo.	RMAC	3
4	New Mexico Highlands	Las Vegas, N.M.	RMAC	8
5	West Texas A&M	Canyon, Texas	Lone Star	4
6	UC-Colorado Springs	Colorado Springs, Colo.	RMAC	6
7	Metro State	Denver, Colo.	RMAC	7
8	Tarleton State	Stephenville, Texas	Lone Star	9
9	Colorado Mesa	Grand Junction, Colo.	RMAC	5
10	Black Hills State	Spearfish, S.D.	RMAC	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Adams State, 2013: Adams State, 2012: Adams State, 2011: Eastern New Mexico, 2010: Central Missouri
SOUTHEAST Region (3 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Mount Olive	Mount Olive, N.C.	Conf. Carolinas	1
2	Queens (N.C.)	Charlotte, N.C.	SAC	2
3	UNC Pembroke	Pembroke, N.C.	Peach Belt	4
4	Georgia College	Milledgeville, Ga.	Peach Belt	5
5	Mars Hill	Mars Hill, N.C.	SAC	6
6	Columbus State	Columbus, Ga.	Peach Belt	3
7	GRU Augusta	Augusta, Ga.	Peach Belt	7
8	Lincoln Memorial	Harrogate, Tenn.	SAC	8
9	Anderson (S.C.)	Anderson, S.C.	SAC	9
10	Montevallo	Montevallo, Ala.	Peach Belt	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Mars Hill, 2013: Mount Olive, 2012: Columbus State, 2011: Queens (N.C.), 2010: Queens (N.C.)
WEST Region (4 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Chico State	Chico, Calif.	CCAA	1
2	Alaska Anchorage	Anchorage, Alaska	GNAC	2
3	Cal Poly Pomona	Pomona, Calif.	CCAA	3
4	Simon Fraser	Burnaby, B.C.	GNAC	6
5	Western Washington	Bellingham, Wash.	GNAC	5
6	Cal Baptist	Riverside, Calif.	PacWest	4
7	SF State	San Francisco, Calif.	CCAA	7
8	UC San Diego	La Jolla, Calif.	CCAA	9
9	Humboldt State	Arcata, Calif.	CCAA	NR
10	Academy of Art	San Francisco, Calif.	PacWest	8
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Chico State, 2013: Chico State, 2012: Chico State, 2011: Alaska Anchorage, 2010: Alaska Anchorage

USTFCCCA NCAA Division II
Women’s Cross Country Regional Team Rankings
2015 Week #2 — September 22
national rankings release: September 23
next regional release: September 29
ATLANTIC Region (3 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Edinboro	Edinboro, Pa.	PSAC	1
2	Bloomsburg	Bloomsburg, Pa.	PSAC	2
3	Slippery Rock	Slippery Rock, Pa.	PSAC	3
4	Shippensburg	Shippensburg, Pa.	PSAC	4
5	Seton Hill	Greensburg, Pa.	PSAC	8
6	California (Pa.)	California, Pa.	PSAC	5
7	East Stroudsburg	East Stroudsburg, Pa.	PSAC	6
8	Kutztown	Kutztown, Pa.	PSAC	9
9	Mercyhurst	Erie, Pa.	PSAC	10
10	Indiana (Pa.)	Indiana, Pa.	PSAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Edinboro, 2013: Edinboro, 2012: Shippensburg, 2011: Shippensburg, 2010: Shippensburg
CENTRAL Region (5 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Minnesota Duluth	Duluth, Minn.	NSIC	1
2	Augustana (S.D.)	Sioux Falls, S.D.	NSIC	2
3	Winona State	Winona, Minn.	NSIC	3
4	U-Mary	Bismarck, N.D.	NSIC	4
5	Southwest Baptist	Bolivar, Mo.	MIAA	5
6	Missouri Southern	Joplin, Mo.	MIAA	6
7	MSU Moorhead	Moorhead, Minn.	NSIC	7
8	Fort Hays State	Hays, Kan.	MIAA	8
9	Pittsburg State	Pittsburg, Kan.	MIAA	9
10	Harding	Searcy, Ark.	Great American	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Minnesota Duluth, 2013: Minnesota Duluth, 2012: Augustana (S.D.), 2011: Western State, 2010: Adams State
EAST Region (3 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Stonehill	Easton, Mass.	Northeast-10	1
2	Roberts Wesleyan	Chili, N.Y.	East Coast	2
3	Assumption	Worcester, Mass.	Northeast-10	5
4	St. Thomas Aquinas	Sparkill, N.Y.	East Coast	4
5	American International	Springfield, Mass.	Northeast-10	3
6	Merrimack	North Andover, Mass.	Northeast-10	6
7	Philadelphia	Philadelphia, Pa.	CACC	7
8	LIU Post	Brookville, N.Y.	East Coast	8
9	Bentley	Waltham, Mass.	Northeast-10	9
10	Nyack	Nyack, N.Y.	CACC	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Roberts Wesleyan, 2013: Stonehill, 2012: Stonehill, 2011: Stonehill, 2010: Stonehill
MIDWEST Region (6 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Hillsdale	Hillsdale, Mich.	GLIAC	2
2	Grand Valley State	Allendale, Mich.	GLIAC	1
3	Bellarmine	Louisville, Ky.	GLVC	4
4	Lewis	Romeoville, Ill.	GLVC	6
5	Southern Indiana	Evansville, Ind.	GLVC	5
6	Malone	Canton, Ohio	GLIAC	7
7	Northern Michigan	Marquette, Mich.	GLIAC	3
8	UW-Parkside	Kenosha, Wis.	GLVC	8
9	Indianapolis	Indianapolis, Ind.	GLVC	9
10	Ferris State	Big Rapids, Mich.	GLIAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Grand Valley State, 2013: Grand Valley State, 2012: Grand Valley State, 2011: Grand Valley State, 2010: Grand Valley State
SOUTH Region (3 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Tampa	Tampa, Fla.	Sunshine	1
2	Saint Leo	Saint Leo, Fla.	Sunshine	2
3	Lee (Tenn.)	Cleveland, Tenn.	Gulf South	3
4	West Alabama	Livingston, Ala.	Gulf South	4
5	Florida Tech	Melbourne, Fla.	Sunshine	NR
6	Alabama-Huntsville	Huntsville, Ala.	Gulf South	7
7	Union (Tenn.)	Jackson, Tenn.	Gulf South	5
8	North Alabama	Florence, Ala.	Gulf South	6
9	West Florida	Pensacola, Fla.	Gulf South	NR
10	Florida Southern	Lakeland, Fla.	Sunshine	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Tampa, 2013: Tampa, 2012: Tampa, 2011: Tampa, 2010: Tampa
SOUTH CENTRAL Region (4 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Adams State	Alamosa, Colo.	RMAC	1
2	Western State	Gunnison, Colo.	RMAC	2
3	UC-Colorado Springs	Colorado Springs, Colo.	RMAC	4
4	Dallas Baptist	Dallas, Texas	Heartland Conference	NR
5	Colorado Mines	Golden, Colo.	RMAC	7
6	Colorado Mesa	Grand Junction, Colo.	RMAC	3
7	CSU-Pueblo	Pueblo, Colo.	RMAC	5
8	Eastern New Mexico	Portales, N.M.	Lone Star	NR
9	Chadron State	Chadron, Neb.	RMAC	10
10	Metro State	Denver, Colo.	RMAC	9
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Adams State, 2013: Adams State, 2012: Adams State, 2011: Midwestern State, 2010: Pittsburg State
SOUTHEAST Region (3 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Montevallo	Montevallo, Ala.	Peach Belt	1
2	North Georgia	Dahlonega, Ga.	Peach Belt	2
3	Queens (N.C.)	Charlotte, N.C.	SAC	3
4	Wingate	Wingate, N.C.	SAC	4
5	Anderson (S.C.)	Anderson, S.C.	SAC	5
6	UNC Pembroke	Pembroke, N.C.	Peach Belt	6
7	Flagler	St. Augustine, Fla.	Peach Belt	8
8	Columbus State	Columbus, Ga.	Peach Belt	NR
9	Young Harris	Young Harris, Ga.	Peach Belt	NR
10	Lincoln Memorial	Harrogate, Tenn.	SAC	7
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Montevallo, 2013: Wingate, 2012: Columbus State, 2011: Queens (N.C.), 2010: Queens (N.C.)
WEST Region (5 auto quals)
Rank	School	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Chico State	Chico, Calif.	CCAA	1
2	Alaska Anchorage	Anchorage, Alaska	GNAC	2
3	Western Washington	Bellingham, Wash.	GNAC	6
4	Cal Baptist	Riverside, Calif.	PacWest	4
5	Seattle Pacific	Seattle, Wash.	GNAC	7
6	Cal State San Bernardino	San Bernardino, Calif.	CCAA	9
7	UC San Diego	La Jolla, Calif.	CCAA	10
8	Azusa Pacific	Azusa, Calif.	PacWest	8
9	Point Loma Nazarene	San Diego, Calif.	PacWest	NR
10	Central Washington	Ellensburg, Wash.	GNAC	5
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Simon Fraser, 2013: Alaska Anchorage, 2012: Chico State, 2011: Alaska Anchorage, 2010: Alaska Anchorage

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