NEW ORLEANS, La. – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its Week 5 NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings on Tuesday, and despite winning the Platte River Rumble in Nebraska, No. 18 RSU dropped a spot to fifth.

Missouri Southern and Winona State retained their top-two spots, while Pittsburg State holds the third spot. East Central made a significant leap, moving up two spots to fourth place this week. For more information, visit 2026 NCAA DII Women's Cross Country Regional Rankings – Week 5 ::: USTFCCCA.

Rogers State is also ranked 24th nationally in the latest USTFCCCA XCRI Index Ratings, scoring 997. The XCRI evaluates collegiate cross country athletes based on their current season performance, factoring in race pace and overall rankings across all divisions. Rankings are updated regularly during race weekends using the XCRI-26A algorithm. For more information, visit USTFCCCA ::: XCRI: Cross Country Rating Index - NCAA Division II Women Team Five (26A).

The Hillcat Cross Country teams return to action Saturday at the MIAA Conference Preview at the MWSU Cross Country Course in St. Joseph, Missouri. The women's 5K race begins at 10 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at 10:45 a.m.