2025 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 1

NEW ORLEANS – Cross country is rolling along.

Here is the Week 1 edition of the 2025 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country Regional Rankings, which were released on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Regional 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 a rank-order of squad potential. Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible to receive a ranking. Teams with provisional status within the region may be ranked.

Regional Championships Friday set for November 14. That’s when we’ll learn which two teams from each region will automatically qualify for the upcoming 2025 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 22, in Columbia, Missouri.

Great Lakes Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 2 Michigan State

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 4 Ohio, No. 5 Michigan

Notes: Notre Dame remains the top team in the region as they opened their season at the Winrow-Valparaiso Open, taking the team title with 22 points and an average time of 17:41 over the 5k course in Indiana. Additionally, the Fighting Irish had four redshirt and unattached runners who ran 17:41 or faster, including three who swept the podium, though it is unclear if they will be activated later in the season. 

Michigan State moves up one spot from their preseason ranking after a strong showing at home in the Spartan Invitational. The Spartans placed second, ahead of regional rivals Michigan and Ohio State, with their top five averaging 21:07. The result is even more impressive considering they held out Makenna Veen and Kaitlyn Hines, both with a top-100 finish at NCAA Championships to their names. 

Mid-Atlantic Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Penn State, No. 2 West Virginia

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Georgetown, No. 4 Penn, No. 5 Princeton

Notes: Penn State are the big risers this week in the Mid-Atlantic, leapfrogging over both Georgetown and West Virginia to claim the top spot in the region. The Nittany Lions had an impressive showing at home in the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational, where they took home the team title, nearly sweeping the top five in the process. Senior Florence Caron was the top finisher, blazing through the 6k course in 19:54, almost 20 seconds ahead of second. 

West Virginia is still lying in wait as they fall one spot from their preseason ranking. The Mountaineers have run B teams at their first two meets of the year, at Lehigh and Robert Morris, but have had impressive performances from freshman Aislinn Frazer, running 22:03 in her debut before improving to 21:07 over 6k this past weekend. As the season is just getting started, the Mountaineers are looking to peak at the right time. 

Midwest Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Oklahoma State, No. 2 Northwestern

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Iowa State, No. 4 Minnesota, No. 5 Missouri

Notes: In their home opener at the Cowboy Preview, Oklahoma State held out most of their top group and placed second to regional rival Northwestern over the 3k course. More will be seen from the Cowgirls as the season goes on as they look to make their tenth consecutive national championship berth.

Northwestern are big climbers as they vault their way into the second projected automatic-qualifier spot in the Midwest. The Wildcats have started the season with two straight wins: one over Oklahoma State at the Cowboy Preview and another over Michigan State at the Spartan Invitational. Both of those team are projected to be in Columbia, Missouri as auto-qualifiers in November and the Wildcats are hoping to be right there with them. 

Mountain Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 BYU, No. 2 New Mexico

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Northern Arizona, No. 4 Utah, No. 5 Colorado

Notes: BYU remains on top of the Mountain region’s ranking after an impressive run on their home course at the BYU Autumn Classic. The Cougars’ top five averaged 15:32 over the three-mile course and appeared to be a controlled effort as their top four all crossed the line at 15:30. The reigning national champions are just getting started as they begin the road to November. 

New Mexico opened their season at home, holding back their top runners, as the Lobos let their freshman debut. Pamela Kosgei has yet to debut for the Lobos on the grass this season as she competes for Kenya in the 3000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Northeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Providence, No. 2 Boston College

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Harvard, No. 4 Syracuse, No. 5 UConn

Notes: Providence stays atop the Northeast with their win at the Friar XC Invitational where the Friars averaged 14:34 over the 4k course, taking down regional foes Boston University and Dartmouth. Florida transfer Gabby Schmidt took the individual title, blazing a 14:07, over 20 seconds ahead of her teammate Cara Laverty in second place. 

Boston College remains in the second projected automatic-qualifier spot as they wait to open their season on the grass this fall. 

South Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Florida

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Lipscomb, No. 4 Florida State, No. 5 Tennessee

Notes: Alabama opened their season at the Southern Showcase where they placed sixth overall, sitting out most of their top five. In her debut, Caren Kiplagat took home the individual title, completing the 5k course in 16:18, over ten seconds ahead of second place. The Crimson Tide will wait for the return of their ace and reigning national champion Doris Lemngole to return before they are at full strength. 

Florida took home the team title at the UNF Invite, ahead of regional and state rival Florida State. The Gators averaged 17:24 over the 5k course and swept the podium enroute to a 26-point margin of victory over the second place Seminoles. 

South Central Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Arkansas, No. 2 Tulane

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Texas, No. 5 LSU

Notes: Arkansas held back many of their top runners in their opener at Missouri, finishing second behind the home team, averaging 17:45 over the 5k course. The Razorbacks have yet to show much since they opened at the end of the August, but project to be back in Columbia by November as an auto-qualifier. 

Tulane opened their season with a strong win over rival Louisiana at the Battle for New Orleans. The Green Wave, averaged 13:41 over the 4k course, nearly sweeping the top five. American Conference indoor mile champion Dorcas Naibei made her debut on the grass, running 13:31 for the win. She will look to be one of the key figures for the Green Wave as they look to be an automatic qualifier in a tight South Central conference where Texas A&M and Texas lurk in the top five. 

Southeast Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 NC State, No. 2 Virginia

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 North Carolina, No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 5 South Carolina

Notes: NC State has yet to open their season as the Wolfpack look to be near the top in Missouri come November. 

Virginia jumps North Carolina as they took home the team title at the Virginia Invitational, averaging 16:57 over the 5k course. The Cavaliers nearly swept the top five with junior Gillian Bushee, leading the way, winning the meet by over 10 seconds with a time of 16:39. Virginia will look to find an automatic qualifier spot, but face stiff competition especially with a North Carolina team that not only returns key runners, but has reloaded in the transfer portal. 

West Region

Projected AQs: No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Stanford

Also in the Hunt: No. 3 Washington, No. 4 Gonzaga, No. 5 Washington State

Notes: Oregon opened their season at the Utah Valley Collegiate Invite where they raced very few runners and none of their top five. Time will tell how the Ducks look this year as they return their top runners from last year and reloaded with strong newcomers, strengthening their bid to take the region again this year. 

Stanford opened their season at the USF Invite where they placed second behind the hosts San Francisco. Despite not running their full team, the Cardinal averaged 21:07 over the 6k course and were just two points behind the Dons. Stanford poses the biggest threat to Oregon, but will have to focus on staving off Washington and Gonzaga who are both some of the country’s top teams.