By Tyler Mayforth, USTFCCCA
NEW ORLEANS — Did everybody catch their breath after a crazy weekend in NCAA Division I Cross Country?
Good.
Now it’s time to take a look at how the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and the Pre-National Invitational shook up the most recent Women’s Regional Rankings, released Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Regional Rankings Summary PDF | Rankings Central | Men’s Rankings
There are two new No. 1 teams and five more moved into the all-important No. 2 slot. The top-2 spots in each region are critical, because if those teams finish in that position at the Regional Championship on November 11, they’ll earn automatic bids to the NCAA DI Cross Country Championships eight days later.
Let’s start alphabetically and find ourselves in the Great Lakes Region, where former No. 2 Michigansupplanted former No. 1 Michigan State at the top of the billing. This past weekend the Wolverines finished a game third at the Pre-National Invitational behind individual champion Erin Finn, while the Spartans limped to 19th place in Madison, Wisconsin and only had one runner in the top-50.
Michigan State actually fell all the way down to fourth, as both Eastern Michigan (No. 3 to No. 2) and Notre Dame (No. 5 to No. 3) leapfrogged, too. The Eagles were 7th at Pre-Nationals and the Irish were 9th in Wisconsin as Anna Rohrer placed third overall.
The other new No. 1 team is that of Iowa State in the Midwest Region. The Cyclones, who were formerly No. 3, jumped two spots after an 8th-place finish in Wisconsin. Erin Hooker led the way for Iowa State as its move pushed Oklahoma State (No. 1 to No. 2) and Minnesota (No. 2 to No. 3) down one spot each.
Just like the Cyclones, the Villanova Wildcats are making a name for themselves as the season progresses. Villanova most recently was 12th in Wisconsin, topped region rivals Georgetown and Penn, and went from No. 5 to No. 2 in the Mid-Atlantic. Paul Short Run champ Angel Piccirillo was 19th overall and the Wildcats put two in the top-35.
Another team that surged three spots in the rankings was that of Oregon. The Ducks had fallen to No. 5 in the West Region, but their performance at Pre-Nats propelled them right back to No. 2 behind top-rankedWashington. Oregon had two runners in the top-15 and finished runner-up to Colorado in the team standings.
Baylor and William & Mary are the other two teams that slid into the No. 2 spot in their respectively regions. The Bears were a surprising fifth in Wisconsin as Maggie Montoya and Lindsey Bradley led the way. The Tribe took eighth at the Penn State National Open, which was run Friday and won by the host Nittany Lions.
With the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and Pre-Nats in the books, the postseason is quickly approaching. Conference championships are in two weeks and they’ll be followed by the nine Regional Championships in which NCAA bids will be secured.
What impact will these rankings have on the National Coaches’ Poll? Be sure to check back in tomorrow at noon ET and tune into "Cross Country U."
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 I
|
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY REGIONAL TEAM RANKINGS
|
2016 Week #5 — October 17
|
national poll release: October 18 |
next regional release: October 31 |
Win-loss record reflective of results in varsity competition of races 7500 meters or longer versus DI opponents starting September 9; RAOR = Record against own region |
GREAT LAKES Region |
Rank |
School |
Overall (RAOR) |
Conference |
Last Week
|
1 |
Michigan |
95-6 (18-1) |
Big Ten |
2
|
2 |
Eastern Michigan |
77-8 (10-1) |
Mid-American |
3
|
3 |
Notre Dame |
47-15 (7-1) |
ACC |
5
|
4 |
Michigan State |
49-19 (8-1) |
Big Ten |
1
|
5 |
Indiana |
59-19 (17-2) |
Big Ten |
4
|
6 |
Butler |
69-19 (11-6) |
Big East |
7
|
7 |
Wisconsin |
14-21 (0-2) |
Big Ten |
8
|
8 |
Purdue |
37-30 (7-7) |
Big Ten |
9
|
9 |
Ohio State |
74-31 (10-10) |
Big Ten |
6
|
10 |
Toledo |
47-50 (13-11) |
Mid-American |
10
|
11 |
Oakland |
40-6 (14-0) |
Horizon |
15
|
12 |
Marquette |
34-44 (11-11) |
Big East |
11
|
13 |
Dayton |
41-10 (17-5) |
Atlantic 10 |
13
|
14 |
Miami (Ohio) |
31-8 (18-4) |
Mid-American |
12
|
15 |
Xavier |
40-33 (10-17) |
Big East |
NR
|
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Michigan, 2014: Michigan State, 2013: Michigan, 2012: Michigan, 2011: Michigan |
|
|
|
|
|
MID-ATLANTIC Region |
Rank |
School |
Overall (RAOR) |
Conference |
Last Week
|
1 |
Penn State |
56-2 (14-0) |
Big Ten |
1
|
2 |
Villanova |
51-17 (15-4) |
Big East |
5
|
3 |
Penn |
52-16 (16-3) |
Ivy |
3
|
4 |
West Virginia |
51-10 (21-4) |
Big 12 |
4
|
5 |
Georgetown |
49-23 (18-3) |
Big East |
2
|
6 |
Princeton |
25-39 (13-8) |
Ivy |
6
|
7 |
Bucknell |
31-16 (16-4) |
Patriot |
7
|
8 |
Pittsburgh |
31-24 (9-4) |
ACC |
8
|
9 |
Maryland |
43-16 (25-4) |
Big Ten |
9
|
10 |
Duquesne |
25-20 (5-6) |
Atlantic 10 |
11
|
11 |
Lehigh |
33-32 (15-10) |
Patriot |
10
|
12 |
George Washington |
32-27 (19-10) |
Atlantic 10 |
13
|
13 |
Navy |
15-37 (7-7) |
Patriot |
12
|
14 |
Towson |
27-37 (10-13) |
Colonial |
14
|
15 |
UMBC |
29-30 (17-12) |
America East |
15
|
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Penn State, 2014: Georgetown, 2013: Villanova, 2012: Penn State, 2011: Georgetown/Villanova, |
|
|
|
|
|
MIDWEST Region |
Rank |
School |
Overall (RAOR) |
Conference |
Last Week
|
1 |
Iowa State |
43-21 (11-1) |
Big 12 |
3
|
2 |
Oklahoma State |
20-3 (2-1) |
Big 12 |
1
|
3 |
Minnesota |
57-32 (14-1) |
Big Ten |
2
|
4 |
Missouri |
66-43 (11-19) |
SEC |
6
|
5 |
Kansas |
29-14 (4-1) |
Big 12 |
5
|
6 |
Tulsa |
11-24 (3-2) |
American |
4
|
7 |
Oklahoma |
35-42 (9-5) |
Big 12 |
8
|
8 |
Northern Illinois |
57-21 (39-5) |
Mid-American |
12
|
9 |
Northern Iowa |
48-6 (25-2) |
Missouri Valley |
15
|
10 |
Bradley |
55-3 (28-2) |
Missouri Valley |
13
|
11 |
South Dakota |
33-5 (24-4) |
Summit League |
9
|
12 |
Iowa |
32-86 (20-28) |
Big Ten |
11
|
13 |
Southeast Missouri |
47-34 (18-5) |
Ohio Valley |
NR
|
14 |
Illinois |
44-34 (31-13) |
Big Ten |
7
|
15 |
Wichita State |
31-9 (6-1) |
Missouri Valley |
14
|
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Oklahoma State, 2014: Iowa State, 2013: Iowa State, 2012: Iowa State, 2011: Iowa State |
|
|
|
|
|
MOUNTAIN Region |
Rank |
School |
Overall (RAOR) |
Conference |
Last Week
|
1 |
Colorado |
71-0 (5-0) |
Pac-12 |
1
|
2 |
New Mexico |
46-6 (7-0) |
Mountain West |
2
|
3 |
Utah |
49-11 (12-2) |
Pac-12 |
4
|
4 |
BYU |
35-9 (3-2) |
West Coast |
3
|
5 |
Air Force |
43-19 (4-3) |
Mountain West |
5
|
6 |
Wyoming |
36-24 (8-3) |
Mountain West |
9
|
7 |
Weber State |
21-39 (7-7) |
Big Sky |
6
|
8 |
Colorado State |
44-37 (6-2) |
Mountain West |
7
|
9 |
Northern Arizona |
23-41 (2-6) |
Big Sky |
10
|
10 |
Utah State |
23-27 (5-7) |
Mountain West |
8
|
11 |
Nevada |
22-2 (2-0) |
Mountain West |
15
|
12 |
UTEP |
43-4 (3-1) |
Conference USA |
14
|
13 |
Southern Utah |
44-22 (4-3) |
Big Sky |
13
|
14 |
Montana |
3-5 (2-5) |
Big Sky |
12
|
15 |
Utah Valley |
32-24 (0-3) |
WAC |
NR
|
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: New Mexico, 2014: Colorado, 2013: Colorado, 2012: Weber State, 2011: New Mexico/Colorado |
|
|
|
|
|
NORTHEAST Region |
Rank |
School |
Overall (RAOR) |
Conference |
Last Week
|
1 |
Providence |
61-2 (17-0) |
Big East |
1
|
2 |
Yale |
65-10 (24-1) |
Ivy |
2
|
3 |
Harvard |
22-17 (3-3) |
Ivy |
4
|
4 |
Syracuse |
26-23 (4-3) |
ACC |
3
|
5 |
Cornell |
46-14 (15-2) |
Ivy |
5
|
6 |
Brown |
57-37 (28-7) |
Ivy |
7
|
7 |
Dartmouth |
53-34 (24-4) |
Ivy |
6
|
8 |
Boston College |
29-44 (16-11) |
ACC |
8
|
9 |
New Hampshire |
20-32 (8-6) |
America East |
11
|
10 |
UMass Lowell |
— (—) |
America East |
9
|
11 |
Iona |
50-14 (20-7) |
Metro Atlantic |
10
|
12 |
Columbia |
52-53 (20-19) |
Ivy |
12
|
13 |
Buffalo |
34-28 (10-8) |
Mid-American |
13
|
14 |
Stony Brook |
38-19 (12-10) |
America East |
14
|
15 |
Vermont |
25-6 (21-6) |
America East |
NR
|
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Providence, 2014: Iona, 2013: Providence,2012: Providence, 2011: Syracuse |
|
|
|
|
|
SOUTH Region |
Rank |
School |
Overall (RAOR) |
Conference |
Last Week
|
1 |
Mississippi |
46-21 (12-11) |
SEC |
1
|
2 |
Mississippi State |
77-20 (11-1) |
SEC |
2
|
3 |
Florida |
71-17 (13-1) |
SEC |
3
|
4 |
Alabama |
32-14 (19-2) |
SEC |
5
|
5 |
Florida State |
38-67 (16-24) |
ACC |
4
|
6 |
Vanderbilt |
29-46 (10-4) |
SEC |
6
|
7 |
Lipscomb |
57-12 (28-3) |
Atlantic Sun |
7
|
8 |
Georgia |
62-21 (23-6) |
SEC |
10
|
9 |
Auburn |
56-20 (28-7) |
SEC |
8
|
10 |
Memphis |
40-14 (23-5) |
American |
9
|
11 |
Middle Tennessee |
29-23 (12-7) |
Conference USA |
11
|
12 |
Southern Miss |
25-8 (15-6) |
Conference USA |
14
|
13 |
UT Martin |
32-40 (18-17) |
Ohio Valley |
15
|
14 |
Jacksonville |
15-3 (15-3) |
Atlantic Sun |
13
|
15 |
Samford |
28-12 (11-7) |
Southern |
NR
|
REGION HISTORY HERE
|
|
|
|
|
|
SOUTH CENTRAL Region |
Rank |
School |
Overall (RAOR) |
Conference |
Last Week
|
1 |
Arkansas |
63-4 (10-0) |
SEC |
1
|
2 |
Baylor |
59-12 (16-4) |
Big 12 |
3
|
3 |
SMU |
25-17 (0-1) |
American |
2
|
4 |
Texas |
21-19 (1-1) |
Big 12 |
5
|
5 |
Rice |
26-33 (15-1) |
Conference USA |
4
|
6 |
Stephen F. Austin |
7-3 (6-0) |
Southland |
7
|
7 |
Texas A&M |
15-26 (14-5) |
SEC |
6
|
8 |
TCU |
40-17 (17-5) |
Big 12 |
9
|
9 |
Tulane |
9-46 (5-2) |
American |
8
|
10 |
UTRGV |
10-10 (7-5) |
WAC |
10
|
11 |
North Texas |
11-8 (7-3) |
Conference USA |
11
|
12 |
Houston |
17-21 (9-6) |
American |
14
|
13 |
LSU |
21-23 (13-6) |
SEC |
12
|
14 |
Lamar |
20-24 (7-5) |
Southland |
13
|
15 |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
8-10 (8-8) |
Southland |
NR
|
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Arkansas, 2014: Arkansas, 2013: Arkansas,2012: Arkansas, 2011: Arkansas |
|
|
|
|
|
SOUTHEAST Region |
Rank |
School |
Overall (RAOR) |
Conference |
Last Week
|
1 |
NC State |
61-2 (13-0) |
ACC |
1
|
2 |
William and Mary |
24-12 (10-2) |
Colonial |
3
|
3 |
Kentucky |
34-4 (1-0) |
SEC |
4
|
4 |
Eastern Kentucky |
63-25 (17-1) |
Ohio Valley |
5
|
5 |
Virginia |
32-20 (11-1) |
ACC |
2
|
6 |
Virginia Tech |
37-13 (10-2) |
ACC |
6
|
7 |
Furman |
43-35 (9-2) |
Southern |
8
|
8 |
Louisville |
49-39 (13-5) |
ACC |
11
|
9 |
Clemson |
19-59 (6-11) |
ACC |
13
|
10 |
Elon |
29-38 (7-8) |
Colonial |
10
|
11 |
Charlotte |
12-21 (2-7) |
Conference USA |
15
|
12 |
Duke |
42-14 (18-1) |
ACC |
14
|
13 |
James Madison |
35-45 (7-6) |
Colonial |
9
|
14 |
Appalachian State |
32-11 (23-6) |
Sun Belt |
NR
|
15 |
North Carolina |
14-49 (10-3) |
ACC |
12
|
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Virginia, 2014: William and Mary, 2013: Virginia, 2012: Duke, 2011: Virginia, |
|
|
|
|
|
WEST Region |
Rank |
School |
Overall (RAOR) |
Conference |
Last Week
|
1 |
Washington |
42-0 (13-0) |
Pac-12 |
1
|
2 |
Oregon |
48-2 (12-1) |
Pac-12 |
5
|
3 |
Portland |
73-3 (11-1) |
West Coast |
2
|
4 |
San Francisco |
54-10 (5-3) |
West Coast |
6
|
5 |
Stanford |
41-5 (9-2) |
Pac-12 |
3
|
6 |
UCLA |
46-18 (3-5) |
Pac-12 |
7
|
7 |
Boise State |
44-22 (4-4) |
Mountain West |
4
|
8 |
California |
47-15 (4-3) |
Pac-12 |
9
|
9 |
Cal Poly |
44-12 (14-5) |
Big West |
8
|
10 |
Arizona |
44-30 (2-9) |
Pac-12 |
10
|
11 |
UC Santa Barbara |
29-5 (23-3) |
Big West |
13
|
12 |
Arizona State |
24-30 (12-6) |
Pac-12 |
11
|
13 |
Idaho |
4-4 (4-2) |
Big Sky |
12
|
14 |
Loyola Marymount |
28-6 (23-4) |
West Coast |
15
|
15 |
Oregon State |
29-20 (2-3) |
Pac-12 |
NR
|
Regional Championship History — Last Five Champions: 2015: Oregon, 2014: Oregon, 2013: Arizona, 2012: Oregon, 2011: Washington |