NEW ORLEANS – Cross country is in the air.

Here is the Week 2 edition of the NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Regional Rankings for the 2024 season, as released on Tuesday 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 Saturday is set for November 9.

Atlantic Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Charleston (W.Va.), No. 2 Davis & Elkins, No. 3 Shippensburg

Next in Line: No. 4 Concord

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 East Stroudsburg

Notes: What’s better than one good weekend? Two, of course. It was hard to ignore No. 5 East Stroudsburg after the Warriors strung together a couple of impressive performances, with the most recent coming at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational. ESU finished 12th as a team, but it was their 1-5 spread of 34 seconds that warranted the attention. 

Central Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 East Central, No. 2 Pittsburg State, No. 3 Northwest Missouri

Next in Line: No. 4 Washburn

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Harding

Notes: The top of the Central Region is stagnant. It’s difficult to say the same for those vying for the next few positions. Harding leapfrogged Neb. Kearney to seize the No. 5 spot as the Lopers showing at the Greeno/Dirksen Invitational proved to be just short of the Warriors victory at the Guymon Invitational. 

East Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Southern Connecticut, No. 2 Roberts Wesleyan, No. 3 Daemen

Next in Line: No. 4 Bentley

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Caldwell

Notes: No. 4 Bentley demonstrated what it takes to climb the rankings on Saturday. The Falcons flew to new heights at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational, finishing as the second team in the East Region, 68 points ahead of Assumption. Simultaneously, Caldwell slid into the No. 5 spot.

Midwest Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Grand Valley State, No. 2 Lewis, No. 3 Saginaw Valley State

Next in Line: No. 4 Walsh

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Michigan Tech

Notes: There were no changes in the top-5 in Week 1.

South Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Lee (Tenn.), No. 2  Florida Southern, No. 3 Alabama Huntsville

Next in Line: No. 4 Embry Riddle

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Mississippi College

Notes: Bad day to be the Rhodes College Cross Country Invitational. At least for everyone other than No. 5 Mississippi College. The Choctaws feasted on the Shelby Farms course, scoring a 17 point victory over nationally ranked Division III opponents Berry College to stay undefeated.  

South Central Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Colo. School of Mines, No. 2 West Texas A&M, No. 3 Adams State

Next in Line: No. 4 Western Colorado

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 CSU Pueblo

Notes: There were no changes in the top-5 in Week 1.

Southeast Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Wingate, No. 2 Augusta, No. 3 Anderson (S.C.)

Next in Line: No. 4 Catawba

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Flagler

Notes: There were no changes in the top-5 in Week 1.

West Region

Projected AQ: No. 1 Chico State, No. 2 Western Washington, No. 3 Biola

Next in Line: No. 4 CAL Poly Pomona

Also in the Hunt: No. 5 Azusa Pacific

Notes: No. 3 Biola and No. 5 Azusa Pacific traded places, and for good reason too. Despite holding out two of their top ten, the Eagles didn’t miss a beat, tallying the lowest score amongst Division II teams at the UC Riverside Invitational. The handful of underclassmen that anchored the Cougars were unable to manifest the same results, crossing the line 20th overall.