Three New No. 1 Teams In NCAA DIII XC Regional Rankings

By Tyler Mayforth, USTFCCCA

September 27, 2016

NEW ORLEANS — Movement in the NCAA Division III Cross Country Regional Rankings is a given at this point of the season as teams are fighting for valuable at-large wins and gearing up for the postseason, which is approaching faster and faster each day.
Most of the changes in the most recent rankings, released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) were contained to the women’s rankings this week as there were two new No. 1 teams and another that moved up to the all-important No. 2 spot behind a consensus No. 1.
QUICK LINKS: Regional Rankings Summary PDF | Men’s Rankings | Women’s Rankings | Rankings Central
We’ll go alphabetically and start in the Central Region where both women’s teams from Carleton and St. Olaf jumped St. Thomas (Minn.). The Knights were idle this past weekend after a strong showing at the St. Olaf Invitational two weeks ago (2nd place). The Oles and Tommies both competed in the Suzy Wilson Women’s Maroon Competition at the Roy Griak Invitational and placed second and third, respectively. By virtue of Carleton’s win over St. Olaf at its own invitational, the Knights take over the No. 1 spot, while the Oles assumed the No. 2 spot and St. Thomas falls to No. 3.
Moving to the New England Region, the Purple Valley Classic had some major implications on this group. One of the biggest DIII meets to date this season saw MIT, led by Megan McCandless‘ individual title, finish second behind SUNY Geneseo. The host Ephs, paced by Emma Zehner (3rd overall), finished third in the team standings. With that head-to-head win, the Engineers pushed ahead of Williams to the No. 1 spot in the region — and in turn, leaving many to wonder what this result will do to the Ephs’ stranglehold atop the national poll.
Staying in the women’s rankings, Dickinson moved up two spots in the Mideast Region to No. 2. The Red Devils were sixth at the Purple Valley Classic and Sofia Canning was their top finisher in fifth place.
The biggest change in the men’s rankings came in the Great Lakes Region, where Calvin and Mount Union played "hot potato" with the No. 1 spot once again. The Knights looked incredibly strong at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) XC Jamboree this past weekend and scored 18 points, three from perfect. Calvin’s runners went 1-2-3-5-7, led by individual champion Zac Nowicki (25:22.7).
Another notable mover and shaker in the men’s rankings was that of St. Lawrence in the Atlantic Region. The Saints went from No. 6 to No. 3 and settled in right behind SUNY Geneseo and RPI.
The NCAA Division III Regional Championships will be held November 12 across the nation. Then the 2016 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships will take place one week later in Louisville, Kentucky at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park.
See below for more information on the rankings, including overviews of each region as well as the full top-10 lists at the bottom of this post.

USTFCCCA NCAA Division III
Men’s Cross Country Regional Team Rankings
2016 Week #3 — September 27
national poll release: September 28
next regional release: October 4

ATLANTIC Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	SUNY Geneseo	Geneseo, N.Y.	SUNYAC	1
2	RPI	Troy, N.Y.	Liberty League	2
3	St. Lawrence	Canton, N.Y.	Liberty League	6
4	NYU	New York, N.Y.	UAA	3
5	SUNY Oneonta	Oneonta, N.Y.	SUNYAC	4
6	Rowan	Glassboro, N.J.	NJAC	5
7	TCNJ	Ewing, N.J.	NJAC	7
8	Ramapo	Mahwah, N.J.	NJAC	8
9	RIT	Henrietta, N.Y.	Liberty League	9
10	St. John Fisher	Pittsford, N.Y.	Empire 8	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: SUNY Geneseo, 2014: St. Lawrence, 2013: SUNY Cortland, 2012: NYU, 2011: St. Lawrence


CENTRAL Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	St. Olaf	Northfield, Minn.	MIAC	1
2	Loras	Dubuque, Iowa	IIAC	2
3	Wartburg	Waverly, Iowa	IIAC	4
4	Gustavus Adolphus	St. Peter, Minn.	MIAC	3
5	Central (Iowa)	Pella, Iowa	IIAC	5
6	Nebraska Wesleyan	Lincoln, Neb.	IIAC	6
7	St. Thomas (Minn.)	Saint Paul, Minn.	MIAC	7
8	Saint John’s (Minn.)	Collegeville, Minn.	MIAC	8
9	Luther	Decorah, Iowa	IIAC	9
10	Grinnell	Grinnell, Iowa	Midwest Conference	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: St. Olaf, 2014: St. Olaf, 2013: St. Olaf, 2012: St. Olaf, 2011: Nebraska Wesleyan


GREAT LAKES Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Calvin	Grand Rapids, Mich.	Michigan Intercollegiate	2
2	Mount Union	Alliance, Ohio	OAC	1
3	Wabash	Crawfordsville, Ind.	NCAC	3
4	Allegheny (Pa.)	Meadville, Pa.	NCAC	4
5	Ohio Northern	Ada, Ohio	OAC	5
6	Case Western Reserve	Cleveland, Ohio	UAA	6
7	John Carroll	University Heights, Ohio	OAC	7
8	Albion	Albion, Mich.	Michigan Intercollegiate	8
9	Otterbein	Westerville, Ohio	OAC	9
10	Hope	Holland, Mich.	Michigan Intercollegiate	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Wabash, 2014: Wabash, 2013: Wabash, 2012: Calvin, 2011: Calvin


MIDEAST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Carnegie Mellon	Pittsburgh, Pa.	UAA	1
2	Haverford	Haverford, Pa.	Centennial	2
3	Johns Hopkins	Baltimore, Md.	Centennial	3
4	Dickinson	Carlisle, Pa.	Centennial	5
5	Widener	Chester, Pa.	Middle Atlantic	4
6	DeSales	Center Valley, Pa.	Middle Atlantic	6
7	Elizabethtown	Elizabethtown, Pa.	Landmark	7
8	Salisbury	Salisbury, Md.	CAC	NR
9	Messiah	Grantham, Pa.	Middle Atlantic	NR
10	Juniata	Huntingdon, Pa.	Landmark	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Haverford, 2014: Carnegie Mellon, 2013: Johns Hopkins, 2012: Haverford, 2011: Haverford


MIDWEST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	North Central (Ill.)	Naperville, Ill.	CCIW	1
2	UW-Eau Claire	Eau Claire, Wis.	WIAC	2
3	UW-La Crosse	La Crosse, Wis.	WIAC	3
4	Washington (Mo.)	St. Louis, Mo.	UAA	7
5	Chicago	Chicago, Ill.	UAA	4
6	Augustana (Ill.)	Rock Island, Ill.	CCIW	6
7	UW-Oshkosh	Oshkosh, Wis.	WIAC	8
8	UW-Stevens Point	Stevens Point, Wis.	WIAC	9
9	UW-Platteville	Platteville, Wis.	WIAC	5
10	UW-Stout	Menomonie, Wis.	WIAC	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: UW-Eau Claire, 2014: North Central (Ill.), 2013: North Central (Ill.), 2012: North Central (Ill.), 2011: North Central (Ill.)


NEW ENGLAND Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Williams	Williamstown, Mass.	NESCAC	1
2	MIT	Cambridge, Mass.	NEWMAC	2
3	Amherst	Amherst, Mass.	NESCAC	3
4	Colby	Waterville, Maine	NESCAC	4
5	Bates	Lewiston, Maine	NESCAC	5
6	Tufts	Medford, Mass.	NESCAC	6
7	Middlebury	Middlebury, Vt.	NESCAC	7
8	Connecticut College	New London, Conn.	NESCAC	8
9	WPI	Worcester, Mass.	NEWMAC	9
10	Wesleyan (Conn.)	Middletown, Conn.	NESCAC	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Williams, 2014: Colby, 2013: Williams, 2012: Middlebury, 2011: Williams


SOUTH/SOUTHEAST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Christopher Newport	Newport News, Va.	CAC	1
2	Emory	Atlanta, Ga.	UAA	2
3	Rhodes	Memphis, Tenn.	SAA	3
4	Trinity (Texas)	San Antonio, Texas	SCAC	4
5	Washington and Lee	Lexington, Va.	ODAC	5
6	Lynchburg	Lynchburg, Va.	ODAC	6
7	Bridgewater (Va.)	Bridgewater, Va.	ODAC	8
8	Mary Washington	Fredericksburg, Va.	CAC	7
9	Univ. of the South	Sewanee, Tenn.	SAA	9
10	Berry	Rome, Ga.	SAA	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Emory, 2014: Emory, 2013: Bridgewater (Va.), 2012: Lynchburg, 2011: Lynchburg


WEST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Pomona-Pitzer	Claremont, Calif.	SCIAC	1
2	Claremont-Mudd-Scripps	Claremont, Calif.	SCIAC	2
3	Willamette	Salem, Ore.	Northwest Conference	3
4	Whitman	Walla Walla, Wash.	Northwest Conference	4
5	Occidental	Los Angeles, Calif.	SCIAC	5
6	Whittier	Whittier, Calif.	SCIAC	6
7	Lewis & Clark	Portland, Ore.	Northwest Conference	7
8	Pacific Lutheran	Tacoma, Wash.	Northwest Conference	8
9	George Fox	Newberg, Ore.	Northwest Conference	9
10	Puget Sound	Tacoma, Wash.	Northwest Conference	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2014: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2013: Pomona-Pitzer, 2012: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2011: Occidental/Colorado College,

USTFCCCA NCAA Division III
Women’s Cross Country Regional Team Rankings
2016 Week #3 — September 27
national poll release: September 28
next regional release: October 4

ATLANTIC Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	SUNY Geneseo	Geneseo, N.Y.	SUNYAC	1
2	RPI	Troy, N.Y.	Liberty League	2
3	Ithaca	Ithaca, N.Y.	Empire 8	3
4	Stevens	Hoboken, N.J.	Empire 8	4
5	St. Lawrence	Canton, N.Y.	Liberty League	5
6	SUNY Oneonta	Oneonta, N.Y.	SUNYAC	6
7	SUNY Cortland	Cortland, N.Y.	SUNYAC	7
8	TCNJ	Ewing, N.J.	NJAC	8
9	Stockton	Pomona, N.J.	NJAC	NR
10	SUNY Plattsburgh	Plattsburgh, N.Y.	SUNYAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: SUNY Geneseo, 2014: St. Lawrence, 2013: NYU, 2012: St. Lawrence, 2011: St. Lawrence


CENTRAL Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Carleton	Northfield, Minn.	MIAC	2
2	St. Olaf	Northfield, Minn.	MIAC	3
3	St. Thomas (Minn.)	Saint Paul, Minn.	MIAC	1
4	Wartburg	Waverly, Iowa	IIAC	4
5	Loras	Dubuque, Iowa	IIAC	5
6	Cornell College	Mount Vernon, Iowa	Midwest Conference	6
7	Nebraska Wesleyan	Lincoln, Neb.	IIAC	7
8	St. Benedict	St. Joseph, Minn.	MIAC	8
9	Macalester	Saint Paul, Minn.	MIAC	9
10	Central (Iowa)	Pella, Iowa	IIAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: St. Thomas (Minn.), 2014: Carleton, 2013: Wartburg, 2012: Wartburg, 2011: Wartburg


GREAT LAKES Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Calvin	Grand Rapids, Mich.	Michigan Intercollegiate	1
2	Hope	Holland, Mich.	Michigan Intercollegiate	2
3	Oberlin	Oberlin, Ohio	NCAC	3
4	Allegheny (Pa.)	Meadville, Pa.	NCAC	4
5	Otterbein	Westerville, Ohio	OAC	5
6	Case Western Reserve	Cleveland, Ohio	UAA	6
7	DePauw	Greencastle, Ind.	NCAC	7
8	Ohio Northern	Ada, Ohio	OAC	8
9	Kenyon	Gambier, Ohio	NCAC	9
10	Mount Union	Alliance, Ohio	OAC	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Hope, 2014: Calvin, 2013: Calvin, 2012: Hope, 2011: Calvin


MIDEAST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Johns Hopkins	Baltimore, Md.	Centennial	1
2	Dickinson	Carlisle, Pa.	Centennial	4
3	Haverford	Haverford, Pa.	Centennial	2
4	Elizabethtown	Elizabethtown, Pa.	Landmark	3
5	DeSales	Center Valley, Pa.	Middle Atlantic	6
6	Swarthmore	Swarthmore, Pa.	Centennial	5
7	Susquehanna	Selinsgrove, Pa.	Landmark	NR
8	Waynesburg	Waynesburg, Pa.	PAC	8
9	Misericordia	Dallas, Pa.	Middle Atlantic	7
10	Muhlenberg	Allentown, Pa.	Centennial	9
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Johns Hopkins, 2014: Johns Hopkins, 2013: Johns Hopkins, 2012: Johns Hopkins, 2011: Johns Hopkins


MIDWEST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Washington (Mo.)	St. Louis, Mo.	UAA	1
2	UW-La Crosse	La Crosse, Wis.	WIAC	2
3	UW-Oshkosh	Oshkosh, Wis.	WIAC	3
4	Chicago	Chicago, Ill.	UAA	4
5	UW-Eau Claire	Eau Claire, Wis.	WIAC	5
6	St. Norbert	De Pere, Wis.	Midwest Conference	6
7	UW-Stevens Point	Stevens Point, Wis.	WIAC	NR
8	Concordia Wisconsin	Mequon, Wis.	NACC	10
9	UW-Stout	Menomonie, Wis.	WIAC	9
10	North Central (Ill.)	Naperville, Ill.	CCIW	7
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Washington (Mo.), 2014: Washington (Mo.), 2013: Chicago, 2012: UW-Eau Claire, 2011: Washington (Mo.)


NEW ENGLAND Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	MIT	Cambridge, Mass.	NEWMAC	2
2	Williams	Williamstown, Mass.	NESCAC	1
3	Tufts	Medford, Mass.	NESCAC	3
4	Amherst	Amherst, Mass.	NESCAC	5
5	Middlebury	Middlebury, Vt.	NESCAC	4
6	Brandeis	Waltham, Mass.	UAA	6
7	Bates	Lewiston, Maine	NESCAC	7
8	Wellesley	Wellesley, Mass.	NEWMAC	8
9	Bowdoin	Brunswick, Maine	NESCAC	9
10	Wesleyan (Conn.)	Middletown, Conn.	NESCAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Williams, 2014: MIT, 2013: Williams, 2012: MIT, 2011: Middlebury

SOUTH/SOUTHEAST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Emory	Atlanta, Ga.	UAA	1
2	Rhodes	Memphis, Tenn.	SAA	2
3	Trinity (Texas)	San Antonio, Texas	SCAC	3
4	Christopher Newport	Newport News, Va.	CAC	4
5	Washington and Lee	Lexington, Va.	ODAC	5
6	Roanoke	Salem, Va.	ODAC	6
7	Centre	Danville, Ky.	SAA	7
8	Berry	Rome, Ga.	SAA	8
9	Mary Washington	Fredericksburg, Va.	CAC	10
10	Eastern Mennonite	Harrisonburg, Va.	ODAC	NR
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Emory, 2014: Emory, 2013: Trinity (Texas), 2012: Trinity (Texas), 2011: Emory


WEST Region
Rank	Institution	Location	Conference	Last Week
1	Claremont-Mudd-Scripps	Claremont, Calif.	SCIAC	1
2	Whitworth	Spokane, Wash.	Northwest Conference	2
3	Colorado College	Colorado Springs, Colo.	SCAC	3
4	Pomona-Pitzer	Claremont, Calif.	SCIAC	4
5	Willamette	Salem, Ore.	Northwest Conference	5
6	UC Santa Cruz	Santa Cruz, Calif.	Great South	6
7	Occidental	Los Angeles, Calif.	SCIAC	7
8	Redlands	Redlands, Calif.	SCIAC	8
9	Lewis & Clark	Portland, Ore.	Northwest Conference	9
10	George Fox	Newberg, Ore.	Northwest Conference	10
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Willamette, 2014: Willamette, 2013: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2012: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2011: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps