NCAA DII Cross Country Regional Rankings Announced

By Kyle Terwillegar, USTFCCCA

September 29, 2015   

NEW ORLEANS – This past weekend was by and large a quiet one in NCAA Division II cross country, a trend that manifested itself in the third regular-season Regional Rankings announced Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Of the eight men’s regions and eight women’s regions, only five total from both genders saw new teams move up into position for their regions’ respective allotted NCAA Championship bids. None crowned a new regional No. 1 team.
Regional Rankings Summary PDF | Division II XC Rankings Central
Week-by-Week All-Time Regional Rankings
QUICK LINKS: Men’s Regions | Women’s Regions
The women’s rankings underwent the most changes, with four of those aforementioned changed regions.
In the six-bid Midwest, Northern Michigan parlayed a strong runner-up finish at the Roy Griak Invite into a return to the No. 3 slot – just one week after dropping an equal amount. The Wildcats’ rise displaced the quartet of No. 4 Bellarmine, No. 5 Lewis, No. 6 Southern Indiana and No. 7 Malone down one spot each.
NMU finished runner-up to Central Region No. 1 Minnesota Duluth, the team atop another region that saw another team move into qualifying position. At that same Griak Invitational, MSU Moorhead finished sixth overall to move up three positions to No. 4 in the five-bid central.
Former Central No. 4 U-Mary followed National Athlete of the Week Alexis Zeis to a fifth-place finish and a subsequent one-spot move up to No. 3. The Marauders’ new rank was vacated by Winona State, which dropped to No. 7 in the region.
A pair of new teams moved into qualifying position in the three-bid Southeast in No. 2 Wingate and No. 3 Anderson (S.C.) – both of which moved up two spots after finishing first and second at the Wingate Bulldog Stampede. Those finishes came at the expense of Queens (N.C.) and North Georgia, which dropped one and three spots, respectively.
In the three-bid East, American International climbed two spots with a victory at the Northeast-10 Preview at St, Michael’s College.
The lone new men’s team to climb into qualifying territory just barely did so. Led by National Athlete of the Week Alec Baldwin to a Roy Griak victory, Black Hills State moved up into the sixth spot in the six-bid South Central Region.
New to the men’s rankings this week were West Virginia Wesleyan (Atlantic), Wingate (Southeast) and Azusa Pacific (West). Joining the women’s rankings were Daemen (East), Coker (Southeast), and Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Stanislaus (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 #3 — September 29
national rankings release: September 30
next regional release: October 6
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	6
7	Kutztown	Kutztown, Pa.	PSAC	7
8	West Virginia Wesleyan	Buckhannon, W.Va.	Mountain East	NR
9	West Chester	West Chester, Pa.	PSAC	8
10	Mansfield	Mansfield, Pa.	PSAC	9
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	2
3	Neb.-Kearney	Kearney, Neb.	MIAA	3
4	Pittsburg State	Pittsburg, Kan.	MIAA	4
5	Northwest Missouri	Maryville, Mo.	MIAA	5
6	Fort Hays State	Hays, Kan.	MIAA	8
7	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls, S.D.	NSIC	7
8	Harding	Searcy, Ark.	Great American	6
9	MSU Moorhead	Moorhead, Minn.	NSIC	9
10	Southwest Baptist	Bolivar, Mo.	MIAA	10
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	3
4	American International	Springfield, Mass.	Northeast-10	4
5	Southern New Hampshire	Manchester, N.H.	Northeast-10	5
6	Merrimack	North Andover, Mass.	Northeast-10	7
7	Southern Connecticut	New Haven, Conn.	Northeast-10	8
8	Bentley	Waltham, Mass.	Northeast-10	6
9	Adelphi	Garden City, N.Y.	Northeast-10	9
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	4
5	Malone	Canton, Ohio	GLIAC	5
6	Bellarmine	Louisville, Ky.	GLVC	6
7	Ashland	Ashland, Ohio	GLIAC	7
8	Cedarville	Cedarville, Ohio	G-MAC	8
9	Indianapolis	Indianapolis, Ind.	GLVC	9
10	Walsh	North Canton, Ohio	GLIAC	10
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	4
5	Nova Southeastern	Davie, Fla.	Sunshine	7
6	Florida Southern	Lakeland, Fla.	Sunshine	5
7	West Florida	Pensacola, Fla.	Gulf South	8
8	Tampa	Tampa, Fla.	Sunshine	6
9	Florida Tech	Melbourne, Fla.	Sunshine	9
10	Valdosta State	Valdosta, Ga.	Gulf South	10
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	4
5	West Texas A&M	Canyon, Texas	Lone Star	5
6	Black Hills State	Spearfish, S.D.	RMAC	10
7	UC-Colorado Springs	Colorado Springs, Colo.	RMAC	6
8	Metro State	Denver, Colo.	RMAC	7
9	Tarleton State	Stephenville, Texas	Lone Star	8
10	Colorado Mesa	Grand Junction, Colo.	RMAC	9
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	3
4	Georgia College	Milledgeville, Ga.	Peach Belt	4
5	Mars Hill	Mars Hill, N.C.	SAC	5
6	Columbus State	Columbus, Ga.	Peach Belt	6
7	GRU Augusta	Augusta, Ga.	Peach Belt	7
8	Lincoln Memorial	Harrogate, Tenn.	SAC	8
9	Wingate	Wingate, N.C.	SAC	NR
10	Anderson (S.C.)	Anderson, S.C.	SAC	9
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	4
5	Western Washington	Bellingham, Wash.	GNAC	5
6	Cal Baptist	Riverside, Calif.	PacWest	6
7	SF State	San Francisco, Calif.	CCAA	7
8	UC San Diego	La Jolla, Calif.	CCAA	8
9	Humboldt State	Arcata, Calif.	CCAA	9
10	Azusa Pacific	Azusa, Calif.	PacWest	NR
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 #3 — September 29
national rankings release: September 30
next regional release: October 6
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	5
6	California (Pa.)	California, Pa.	PSAC	6
7	East Stroudsburg	East Stroudsburg, Pa.	PSAC	7
8	Kutztown	Kutztown, Pa.	PSAC	8
9	Mercyhurst	Erie, Pa.	PSAC	9
10	Indiana (Pa.)	Indiana, Pa.	PSAC	10
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	U-Mary	Bismarck, N.D.	NSIC	4
4	MSU Moorhead	Moorhead, Minn.	NSIC	7
5	Southwest Baptist	Bolivar, Mo.	MIAA	5
6	Missouri Southern	Joplin, Mo.	MIAA	6
7	Winona State	Winona, Minn.	NSIC	3
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	American International	Springfield, Mass.	Northeast-10	5
4	Assumption	Worcester, Mass.	Northeast-10	3
5	St. Thomas Aquinas	Sparkill, N.Y.	East Coast	4
6	Daemen	Amherst, N.Y.	East Coast	NR
7	Merrimack	North Andover, Mass.	Northeast-10	6
8	Philadelphia	Philadelphia, Pa.	CACC	7
9	LIU Post	Brookville, N.Y.	East Coast	8
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	1
2	Grand Valley State	Allendale, Mich.	GLIAC	2
3	Northern Michigan	Marquette, Mich.	GLIAC	7
4	Bellarmine	Louisville, Ky.	GLVC	3
5	Lewis	Romeoville, Ill.	GLVC	4
6	Southern Indiana	Evansville, Ind.	GLVC	5
7	Malone	Canton, Ohio	GLIAC	6
8	UW-Parkside	Kenosha, Wis.	GLVC	8
9	Indianapolis	Indianapolis, Ind.	GLVC	9
10	Ferris State	Big Rapids, Mich.	GLIAC	10
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	5
6	Alabama-Huntsville	Huntsville, Ala.	Gulf South	6
7	Union (Tenn.)	Jackson, Tenn.	Gulf South	7
8	North Alabama	Florence, Ala.	Gulf South	8
9	West Florida	Pensacola, Fla.	Gulf South	9
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	3
4	Dallas Baptist	Dallas, Texas	Heartland Conference	4
5	Colorado Mines	Golden, Colo.	RMAC	5
6	Colorado Mesa	Grand Junction, Colo.	RMAC	6
7	CSU-Pueblo	Pueblo, Colo.	RMAC	7
8	Eastern New Mexico	Portales, N.M.	Lone Star	8
9	Chadron State	Chadron, Neb.	RMAC	9
10	Metro State	Denver, Colo.	RMAC	10
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	Wingate	Wingate, N.C.	SAC	4
3	Anderson (S.C.)	Anderson, S.C.	SAC	5
4	Queens (N.C.)	Charlotte, N.C.	SAC	3
5	North Georgia	Dahlonega, Ga.	Peach Belt	2
6	UNC Pembroke	Pembroke, N.C.	Peach Belt	6
7	Flagler	St. Augustine, Fla.	Peach Belt	7
8	Columbus State	Columbus, Ga.	Peach Belt	8
9	Coker	Hartsville, S.C.	SAC	NR
10	Young Harris	Young Harris, Ga.	Peach Belt	9
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	3
4	Cal Baptist	Riverside, Calif.	PacWest	4
5	Seattle Pacific	Seattle, Wash.	GNAC	5
6	UC San Diego	La Jolla, Calif.	CCAA	7
7	Cal Poly Pomona	Pomona, Calif.	CCAA	NR
8	Cal State San Bernardino	San Bernardino, Calif.	CCAA	6
9	Cal State Stanislaus	Turlock, Calif.	CCAA	NR
10	Azusa Pacific	Azusa, Calif.	PacWest	8
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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