Sept. 18, 2007

Men's Regional Rankings | Women's Regional Rankings

NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced today the Division II cross country regional rankings for the men's and women's programs. Not much changed from last week, as all men's region No. 1's stayed the same, led by Abilene Christian, the top-ranked team in the Division II men's national poll.

On the women's side two teams moved into the top spots in their respective regions. Missouri Southern State University is the new No. 1, moving ahead of previously top-ranked Abilene Christian in the South Central region. And Cal State Los Angeles becomes the top-ranked team in the West region.

EAST REGIONAL
The top four teams in the men's region remained unchanged this week, led by Slippery Rock who remains the top-ranked team for the third consecutive week. Last weekend Slippery Rock won the IUP Invitational. Following Slippery Rock is Edinboro, who took first place this past weekend at Wisconsin-Parkside.

Millersville made the biggest jump in the rankings this week, moving up to No. 6 in the East after previously being unranked. Millersville ran very well at the Lock Haven Invite defeating last week's No. 5 Bloomsburg.

The Kutztown women remained No.1 for the second week in a row. They are followed by Bloomsburg who finished third at the Lock Haven Invite behind Division I teams West Virginia and Kent State. Edinboro dropped to third this week with Slippery Rock and IUP tied in this week's rankings for fourth.

The Millersville women also made a big jump in the rankings. Like their men's team, they rank No. 6 in the region. They were previously unranked.

NORTHEAST REGIONAL
Stonehill, UMASS-Lowell and Southern Connecticut remain the same in this week's rankings. None of the teams raced their top performers this week.

Bentley and Adelphi flip-flopped in the region this week with Adelphi moving into the fourth spot and Bentley in fifth.

The top four teams in the women's region remained unchanged with Stonehill ranked No. 1 for the third week in a row. Southern Connecticut moves into the top-five this week, while Saint Anselm is ranked for the first time this season.

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL
Mars Hill remains the top-ranked team in the Southeast, followed by Anderson and Lenoir-Rhyne. Queens College, previously unranked, made a big move this week to the top-five after an impressive performance at the Wingate Invite.

Lees-McRae leads the women's region for the second week in a row as the top-five teams all remained the same this week. Pfeiffer University moves into the top-ten this week at No. 8, their first ranking of 2007.

GREAT LAKES REGION
Grand Valley State and Southern Indiana remain one-two in the men's region followed by Saginaw Valley State at No. 3. Ashland University made the biggest jump this week, as they into the top-five at No. 4 from the eight spot. Wayne State University rounds out the top-five for the men.

The top three women's programs remained the same with Grand Valley State leading the way. Wayne State's women continue to make their push as they enter the top-five (No. 4) for the first time this season. They entered '07 ranked ninth in the region and have improved each week.

SOUTH REGION
Harding, Florida Southern, Alabama Huntsville and West Florida remain the top four teams in the South for the third consecutive week. Nova Southeastern follows the top four and enters the poll for the first time in 2007 to round out the top-five.

There was only one change in the women's region this week, as Alabama Huntsville jumped Tampa in the rankings. UAH won the Wingate Invite over the weekend and ranks second while Tampa, who also won their home meet, ranks third.

NORTH CENTRAL REGION
Adams State remains the top-ranked team in the North Central region for the third week in a row. Adams State won the Colorado State Invite over the weekend with a perfect score defeating several division I programs. ASC is followed by Western State, the Colorado School of Mines and Minnesota State Mankato.

New Mexico Highlands is ranked fifth as they make the biggest jump in the men's region this week. They were previously ranked eighth. University of Mary enters the rankings for the first time this year ranked tenth.

The top six teams in the women's region remained unchanged this week with Adams State, Western State and Augustana College ranked one-two-three. Nebraska Kearney moves up two spots to No. 7 while Nebraska Omaha enters the poll for the first time in '07 at No. 9.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Abilene Christian leads the South Central men's region after finishing third in the Red Raider Jackrabbit Invitational over the weekend. Missouri Southern State remains the second-ranked team in the region after a second place finish at home in the Southern Stampede. Pittsburg State moves up to No. 3 this week after a seventh place finish at the Southern Stampede. Pittsburg State was ranked seventh in last week's poll.

Dallas Baptist University enters the South Central region poll this week ranked tenth.

Missouri Southern State's women become the top-ranked team after finishing second at home in the Southern Stampede behind the University of Tulsa who is ranked seventh in the Division I Midwest poll.

The women of Dallas Baptist University enter the South Central poll this week ranked fifth. DBU finished seventh at the Southern Stampede over the weekend.

WEST REGION
The top four teams in the men's region remain the same this week, with Chico State the No. 1 team. Humboldt State enters the top-five this week moving up one spot from their No. 6 ranking a week ago. Central Washington also enters the poll this week ranked tenth.

Cal State Los Angeles is the new top-ranked team in the women's region followed by Chico State. Seattle Pacific dropped this week to No. 3 in the rankings followed by UC San Diego and Cal Poly Pomona. Cal Poly Pomona is ranked fifth this week after being ranked eighth in last week's poll.

To view all rankings please visit www.ustfccca.org.