2017 NJCAA Division I Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 1

NEW ORLEANS – The reigning national champions in NJCAA Division I Cross Country aren’t expected to repeat according to the first batch of National Coaches’ Polls conducted by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Central Arizona men and Lansing (Mich.) women were both toppled by Iowa Central on Wednesday. In fact, the Stars fell all the way down to sixth to begin the 2017 season.

QUICK LINKS: Men’s Poll | Women’s Poll
NATIONAL COACHES’ POLL – SUMMARY PDF
NATIONAL COACHES’ POLL – 2017 Week By Week
NATIONAL COACHES’ POLL – All-Time Week By Week

For those who are new or need a refresher, the NJCAA Cross Country National Coaches’ Polls are voted on by 10 coaches from around the nation. Points are assigned to each spot in the poll and the team with the most points is No. 1, followed by the second most and so on and so forth.

The 2017 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships will be held Saturday, November 11 in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Men’s Story

It’s neck and neck atop the Men’s National Coaches’ Poll as Iowa Central and Central Arizona split 10 first-place votes between them. That’s right: The Tritons and Vaqueros each tallied five first-place votes from the coaches, but Iowa Central nabbed two more points elsewhere.

The Tritons will be led this season by Karim Achengli, who is already a two-time National Athlete of the Week. Achengli most recently won the individual title at the Spartan Invitational hosted by Michigan State this past weekend.

Central Arizona must find a way to replenish its roster after losing both Gilbert Kigen and Jorge Perez. Kigen and Perez finished first and third at the 2016 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships but exhausted their JUCO eligibility.

Allen (Kan.) CC sits third behind Iowa Central and Central Arizona. The top returner from last year’s national meet for the Red Devils is Anthony Glasgow, who finished 21st.

South Plains (Texas) and Butler (Kan.) CC round out the top-5 in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Monroe (N.Y.) was the biggest gainer from the end of last season as it jumped 20 spots from No. 31 to No. 11.

Women’s Story

Iowa Central earned eight of the 10 first-place votes in the Women’s National Coaches’ Poll and in turn owns a 10-point advantage over No. 2 Cowley County (Kan.) CC.

The Tritons have shown their might during the season thus far, placing second behind NCAA Division I Iowa at the Hawkeye Invitational and wiping the floor with the JUCO competition at the Spartan Invitational hosted by Michigan State. Adva Cohen has been the key cog for Iowa Central and most recently finished 11th at the Spartan Invitational.

Cowley County had one of the most notable jumps in the poll from last year as it went from No. 9 to No. 2. The Tigers romped to the team title at the Missouri Southern Stampede this past weekend and were paced by Naomi Similus, who finished runner-up in 18:32.52.

El Paso CC starts the 2017 season right where it ended up in 2016 – third.

Allen (Kan.) CC and Central Arizona sit fourth and fifth, respectively.

Notable jumps were made by Vincennes (Ind.) (No. 16 to No. 6) and Butler (Kan.) CC (No. 17 to No. 8).