Three No. 1 Teams Take Over in DIII Regional Polls

By Tyler Mayforth, USTFCCCA

October 6, 2015   

NEW ORLEANS – If the newest Regional Team Rankings for Division III Cross Country are any indication, there might be a changing of the guard in the National Coaches’ Poll.
In the rankings that were released Tuesday afternoon by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the UW-Eau Claire men uprooted reigning national champ North Central (Ill.) as the top team in the Midwest Region. This is the first time in the past five years (Week 1 in 2010) that the Cardinals aren’t the top-ranked team in their region.
Quick Jump: Men’s Rankings | Women’s Rankings
Regional Rankings Summary PDF | Division III XC Rankings Central
Both the Blugolds and North Central (Ill.) raced this past weekend. UW-Eau Claire hosted its annual Blugold Invitational and welcomed DIII No. 2 St. Olaf, DIII No. 8 UW-La Crosse and DIII No. 28 UW-Platteville to its 8K course. The Cardinals took part in the Gold race at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational along with a number of DI teams as well as DIII No. 14 UW-Oshkosh and DIII No. 16 Calvin.
UW-Eau Claire won its own invitational by putting four runners inside the top-15 (three in the top-8). North Central (Ill.) finished second behind DI Clemson in its race.
The Blugolds have never been ranked higher than No. 2 in the Midwest Region and was No. 3 coming into the weekend. UW-Eau Claire also jumped Washington (Mo.), a team that was No. 2 at the time and is now No. 3.
Not to be outdone, there are two other new No. 1 teams in their respective regions – Geneseo State in the Atlantic Region and Haverford, moving into a tie with Carnegie Mellon in the Mideast Region. Geneseo State won the Mike Woods Invitational going away this past weekend (42-103-203) and Haverford was runner-up in the Division II/Division III portion of the Paul Short Run.
Other big movers in the men’s rankings included Wesleyan (Conn.) and Alleghany (Pa.). Wesleyan (Conn.) jumped five spots in the New England Region to No. 5, which is its loftiest ranking in program history. Alleghany (Pa.) continued its surge and is now No. 2 in the Great Lakes for the first time since 2012.
Every No. 1 team in the women’s poll maintained its spot and that includes defending national champion Johns Hopkins. Where there was movement was in the second spots behind those No. 1s, namely in the Great Lakes Region, Mideast Region, New England Region and South/Southeast Region.
Otterbein jumped from No. 4 to No. 2 in the Great Lakes Region. Swarthmore zoomed four places from No. 6 to No. 2 in the Mideast Region. Tufts went from No. 4 to No. 2 in the New England Region. Christopher Newport and Trinity (Texas) are now tied at No. 2 in the South/Southeast Region.
There are 16 new additions in total to the men’s and women’s polls this week.
Joining the men’s poll are Rowan (Atlantic), Ramapo (Atlantic), Otterbein (Great Lakes), Ohio Wesleyan (Great Lakes), Birmingham-Southern (South/Southeast), Saint Vincent (Mideast) and Linfield (West).
Making their debut in the women’s poll are TCNJ (Atlantic), SUNY Plattsburgh (Atlantic), UW-Platteville (Midwest), Nebraska Wesleyan (Central), Manchester (Great Lakes), Centre (South/Southeast), Muhlenberg (Mideast), Linfield (West) and Occidental (West).
The NCAA Division III Regional Championships will be held across the nation on Saturday, November 14. Then one week later, the national meet will be held at the Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winnerconne, Wisconsin.
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 (if applicable) in determining predicted team finishes at the NCAA Regional Championships.

USTFCCCA NCAA Division III
Men’s Cross Country Regional Team Rankings
2015 Week #4 — October 6
national poll release: October 7
next regional release: October 13
ATLANTIC Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	SUNY Geneseo	Geneseo, N.Y.	SUNYAC	2
2	St. Lawrence	Canton, N.Y.	Liberty League	1
3	RPI	Troy, N.Y.	Liberty League	3
4	NYU	New York, N.Y.	UAA	4
5	SUNY Oneonta	Oneonta, N.Y.	SUNYAC	5
6	TCNJ	Ewing, N.J.	NJAC	6
7	Hamilton	Clinton, N.Y. (Oneida Co.)	NESCAC	8
8	Rowan	Glassboro, N.J.	NJAC	NR
9	Ramapo	Mahwah, N.J.	NJAC	NR
10	Fredonia	Fredonia, N.Y.	SUNYAC	9
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: St. Lawrence, 2013: SUNY Cortland, 2012: NYU, 2011: St. Lawrence, 2010: SUNY Geneseo
CENTRAL Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	St. Olaf	Northfield, Minn.	MIAC	1
2	Wartburg	Waverly, Iowa	IIAC	2
3	Loras	Dubuque, Iowa	IIAC	3
4	St. Thomas (Minn.)	Saint Paul, Minn.	MIAC	4
5	Central (Iowa)	Pella, Iowa	IIAC	5
6	Saint John’s (Minn.)	Collegeville, Minn.	MIAC	7
7	Gustavus Adolphus	St. Peter, Minn.	MIAC	9
8	Carleton	Northfield, Minn.	MIAC	6
9	Luther	Decorah, Iowa	IIAC	8
10	Nebraska Wesleyan	Lincoln, Neb.	Great Plains	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: St. Olaf, 2013: St. Olaf, 2012: St. Olaf, 2011: Nebraska Wesleyan, 2010: Grinnell
GREAT LAKES Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Wabash	Crawfordsville, Ind.	NCAC	1
2	Allegheny (Pa.)	Meadville, Pa.	NCAC	4
3	Ohio Northern	Ada, Ohio	OAC	3
4	John Carroll	University Heights, Ohio	OAC	6
5	Calvin	Grand Rapids, Mich.	Michigan Intercollegiate	2
6	Mount Union	Alliance, Ohio	OAC	8
7	Rose-Hulman	Terre Haute, Ind.	HCAC	9
8	Otterbein	Westerville, Ohio	OAC	NR
9	Case Western Reserve	Cleveland, Ohio	UAA	7
10	Ohio Wesleyan	Delaware, Ohio	NCAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Wabash, 2013: Wabash, 2012: Calvin, 2011: Calvin, 2010: Calvin
MIDEAST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Haverford	Haverford, Pa.	Centennial	2
1	Carnegie Mellon	Pittsburgh, Pa.	UAA	1
3	Johns Hopkins	Baltimore, Md.	Centennial	3
4	Elizabethtown	Elizabethtown, Pa.	Landmark	7
5	Dickinson	Carlisle, Pa.	Centennial	4
6	Messiah	Grantham, Pa.	Middle Atlantic	6
7	Widener	Chester, Pa.	Middle Atlantic	5
8	Swarthmore	Swarthmore, Pa.	Centennial	9
9	Saint Vincent	Latrobe, Pa.	PAC	NR
9	York (Pa.)	York, Pa.	CAC	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Carnegie Mellon, 2013: Johns Hopkins, 2012: Haverford, 2011: Haverford, 2010: Haverford
MIDWEST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	UW-Eau Claire	Eau Claire, Wis.	WIAC	3
2	North Central (Ill.)	Naperville, Ill.	CCIW	1
3	Washington (Mo.)	St. Louis, Mo.	UAA	2
4	UW-La Crosse	La Crosse, Wis.	WIAC	4
5	UW-Oshkosh	Oshkosh, Wis.	WIAC	5
6	Augustana (Ill.)	Rock Island, Ill.	CCIW	6
7	UW-Platteville	Platteville, Wis.	WIAC	7
8	Chicago	Chicago, Ill.	UAA	8
9	UW-Stevens Point	Stevens Point, Wis.	WIAC	9
10	UW-Whitewater	Whitewater, Wis.	WIAC	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: North Central (Ill.), 2013: North Central (Ill.), 2012: North Central (Ill.), 2011: North Central (Ill.), 2010: North Central (Ill.)
NEW ENGLAND Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Amherst	Amherst, Mass.	NESCAC	1
2	Williams	Williamstown, Mass.	NESCAC	2
3	MIT	Cambridge, Mass.	NEWMAC	3
4	Bates	Lewiston, Maine	NESCAC	4
5	Wesleyan (Conn.)	Middletown, Conn.	NESCAC	10
6	Colby	Waterville, Maine	NESCAC	5
7	Tufts	Medford, Mass.	NESCAC	6
8	Middlebury	Middlebury, Vt.	NESCAC	7
9	Brandeis	Waltham, Mass.	UAA	8
10	Bowdoin	Brunswick, Maine	NESCAC	9
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Colby, 2013: Williams, 2012: Middlebury, 2011: Williams, 2010: MIT
SOUTH/SOUTHEAST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Emory	Atlanta, Ga.	UAA	1
2	Washington and Lee	Lexington, Va.	ODAC	3
3	Christopher Newport	Newport News, Va.	CAC	4
4	Trinity (Texas)	San Antonio, Texas	SCAC	7
5	Bridgewater (Va.)	Bridgewater, Va.	ODAC	2
6	Rhodes	Memphis, Tenn.	SAA	5
7	Lynchburg	Lynchburg, Va.	ODAC	6
8	Mary Washington	Fredericksburg, Va.	CAC	8
9	Birmingham-Southern	Birmingham, Ala.	SAA	NR
10	Eastern Mennonite	Harrisonburg, Va.	ODAC	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Emory, 2013: Bridgewater (Va.), 2012: Lynchburg, 2011: Lynchburg, 2010: Lynchburg
WEST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Claremont-Mudd-Scripps	Claremont, Calif.	SCIAC	1
2	Pomona-Pitzer	Claremont, Calif.	SCIAC	2
3	Willamette	Salem, Ore.	Northwest Conference	3
4	Puget Sound	Tacoma, Wash.	Northwest Conference	4
5	Whitman	Walla Walla, Wash.	Northwest Conference	7
6	Occidental	Los Angeles, Calif.	SCIAC	5
7	Whitworth	Spokane, Wash.	Northwest Conference	6
8	Linfield	McMinnville, Ore.	Northwest Conference	NR
9	Redlands	Redlands, Calif.	SCIAC	9
10	Whittier	Whittier, Calif.	SCIAC	8
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2013: Pomona-Pitzer, 2012: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2011: Colorado College/Occidental,2010: Willamette

USTFCCCA NCAA Division III
Women’s Cross Country Regional Team Rankings
2015 Week #4 — October 6
national poll release: October 7
next regional release: October 13
ATLANTIC Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	SUNY Geneseo	Geneseo, N.Y.	SUNYAC	1
2	St. Lawrence	Canton, N.Y.	Liberty League	2
3	SUNY Oneonta	Oneonta, N.Y.	SUNYAC	3
4	RIT	Henrietta, N.Y.	Liberty League	4
5	RPI	Troy, N.Y.	Liberty League	5
6	SUNY Cortland	Cortland, N.Y.	SUNYAC	7
7	TCNJ	Ewing, N.J.	NJAC	NR
8	Rochester (N.Y.)	Rochester, N.Y.	UAA	6
9	Stevens	Hoboken, N.J.	Empire 8	8
10	SUNY Plattsburgh	Plattsburgh, N.Y.	SUNYAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: St. Lawrence, 2013: NYU, 2012: St. Lawrence, 2011: St. Lawrence, 2010: St. Lawrence
CENTRAL Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Carleton	Northfield, Minn.	MIAC	1
2	St. Olaf	Northfield, Minn.	MIAC	2
3	St. Thomas (Minn.)	Saint Paul, Minn.	MIAC	4
3	Cornell College	Mount Vernon, Iowa	Midwest Conference	5
5	St. Benedict	St. Joseph, Minn.	MIAC	7
6	Luther	Decorah, Iowa	IIAC	3
7	Macalester	Saint Paul, Minn.	MIAC	7
8	Grinnell	Grinnell, Iowa	Midwest Conference	10
9	Wartburg	Waverly, Iowa	IIAC	6
10	Nebraska Wesleyan	Lincoln, Neb.	Great Plains	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Carleton, 2013: Wartburg, 2012: Wartburg, 2011: Wartburg, 2010: Luther
GREAT LAKES Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Hope	Holland, Mich.	Michigan Intercollegiate	1
2	Otterbein	Westerville, Ohio	OAC	4
3	Calvin	Grand Rapids, Mich.	Michigan Intercollegiate	2
4	Allegheny (Pa.)	Meadville, Pa.	NCAC	3
5	Mount Union	Alliance, Ohio	OAC	9
6	Ohio Wesleyan	Delaware, Ohio	NCAC	5
7	DePauw	Greencastle, Ind.	NCAC	6
8	John Carroll	University Heights, Ohio	OAC	8
9	Case Western Reserve	Cleveland, Ohio	UAA	7
10	Manchester	North Manchester, Ind.	HCAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Calvin, 2013: Calvin, 2012: Hope, 2011: Calvin, 2010: Calvin
MIDEAST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Johns Hopkins	Baltimore, Md.	Centennial	1
2	Swarthmore	Swarthmore, Pa.	Centennial	6
3	Haverford	Haverford, Pa.	Centennial	4
4	Dickinson	Carlisle, Pa.	Centennial	2
5	Misericordia	Dallas, Pa.	Middle Atlantic	5
6	Elizabethtown	Elizabethtown, Pa.	Landmark	2
7	Carnegie Mellon	Pittsburgh, Pa.	UAA	7
8	Grove City	Grove City, Pa.	PAC	8
9	Waynesburg	Waynesburg, Pa.	PAC	9
10	Muhlenberg	Allentown, Pa.	Centennial	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Johns Hopkins, 2013: Johns Hopkins, 2012: Johns Hopkins, 2011: Johns Hopkins, 2010: Johns Hopkins
MIDWEST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Washington (Mo.)	St. Louis, Mo.	UAA	1
2	Chicago	Chicago, Ill.	UAA	2
3	UW-La Crosse	La Crosse, Wis.	WIAC	3
4	UW-Eau Claire	Eau Claire, Wis.	WIAC	4
5	North Central (Ill.)	Naperville, Ill.	CCIW	5
6	Wheaton (Ill.)	Wheaton, Ill.	CCIW	6
7	UW-Oshkosh	Oshkosh, Wis.	WIAC	7
8	UW-Platteville	Platteville, Wis.	WIAC	NR
9	St. Norbert	De Pere, Wis.	Midwest Conference	9
10	UW-Stout	Menomonie, Wis.	WIAC	8
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Washington (Mo.), 2013: Chicago, 2012: UW-Eau Claire, 2011: Washington (Mo.), 2010: UW-Eau Claire
NEW ENGLAND Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Williams	Williamstown, Mass.	NESCAC	1
2	Tufts	Medford, Mass.	NESCAC	4
3	MIT	Cambridge, Mass.	NEWMAC	2
4	Middlebury	Middlebury, Vt.	NESCAC	3
5	Amherst	Amherst, Mass.	NESCAC	5
6	Brandeis	Waltham, Mass.	UAA	7
7	Keene State	Keene, N.H.	Little East	10
8	Colby	Waterville, Maine	NESCAC	6
9	Wellesley	Wellesley, Mass.	NEWMAC	8
10	Bates	Lewiston, Maine	NESCAC	9
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: MIT, 2013: Williams, 2012: MIT, 2011: Middlebury, 2010: Middlebury
SOUTH/SOUTHEAST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Emory	Atlanta, Ga.	UAA	1
2	Trinity (Texas)	San Antonio, Texas	SCAC	4
2	Christopher Newport	Newport News, Va.	CAC	3
4	Rhodes	Memphis, Tenn.	SAA	2
5	Bridgewater (Va.)	Bridgewater, Va.	ODAC	5
6	Mary Washington	Fredericksburg, Va.	CAC	7
7	Washington and Lee	Lexington, Va.	ODAC	6
8	UT Tyler	Tyler, Texas	ASC	9
9	Centre	Danville, Ky.	SAA	NR
10	Marymount (Va.)	Arlington, Va.	CAC	8
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Emory, 2013: Trinity (Texas), 2012: Trinity (Texas), 2011: Emory, 2010: Rhodes
WEST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Claremont-Mudd-Scripps	Claremont, Calif.	SCIAC	1
2	Willamette	Salem, Ore.	Northwest Conference	2
3	Whitworth	Spokane, Wash.	Northwest Conference	3
4	Colorado College	Colorado Springs, Colo.	SCAC	4
5	Redlands	Redlands, Calif.	SCIAC	6
6	Pomona-Pitzer	Claremont, Calif.	SCIAC	7
7	UC Santa Cruz	Santa Cruz, Calif.	Great South	5
8	Whitman	Walla Walla, Wash.	Northwest Conference	10
9	Linfield	McMinnville, Ore.	Northwest Conference	NR
10	Occidental	Los Angeles, Calif.	SCIAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2014: Willamette, 2013: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2012: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2011: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2010: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

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