2021 NJCAA DII Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 2
NEW ORLEANS – Movement was just about everywhere in Week 2 of the NJCAA Division II Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
One of the biggest movers was way up at the top, as Cowley (Kan.) leapfrogged the previous top-3 to land as the new No. 1. Six new programs entered the rankings, including three in the top-10.
The 2021 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday, November 13 at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Virginia.
NJCAA Division II — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Cowley (Kan.)
Cowley (Kan.)
2
Heartland (Ill.) CC
Heartland (Ill.) CC
3
Daytona State (Fla.)
Daytona State (Fla.)
4
Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC
Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC
5
Lansing (Mich.) CC
Lansing (Mich.) CC
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Cowley (Kan.) impressed many with a dominating win at the Missouri Southern Stampede on September 18, enough to secure all 12 first-place votes in the Week 2 poll. The Tigers, who return all five scorers from last year’s third-place team, were led by the 1-2 punch of Adrian Diaz-Lopez and Amos Pkiach, who had identical times of 24:40.3 over the 8k course. Diaz-Lopez’s win earned him National Athlete of the Week honors. The duo went 2-3 in last year’s NJCAA Division II Championships.
Moving down from the top spot is Heartland (Ill.) CC. The Hawks were the leading JUCO team at the Bradley Invitational on September 17, finishing 2nd with freshman Briar Nevills earning team-high honors.
Daytona State (Fla.) CC is No. 3, down one position from the last poll. The Falcons were the leading JUCO team in finishing 6th at the Mountain Dew Invitational on September 11. Andy Martinez, fourth in last year’s NJCAA Division II Championships, was the top JUCO individual in 21st (19:23.7 over 6k).
Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC moved from a tie for No. 3 to No. 4 in the latest rankings. The Raiders haven’t competed since the Calvin Knight Invitational on Sept. 4, when they were the top JUCO squad in 11th against four-year programs. Freshman Coleman Clark was the team’s top runner, and the Raiders also return Joshua Kipkoech, who was fifth in last year’s NJCAA Division II Championships.
Debuting in the rankings at No. 5 is Lansing (Mich.) CC, the program’s first-ever ranking in Division II. The Stars were the top JUCO team at the John McNichols Invitational on September 18, finishing 7th among four-year schools. Freshman Erik Reiber of Lansing was the meet’s leading JUCO individual (47th in 26:44.5 for 8k).
Completing the top-10 are No. 6 Carl Sandburg (Ill.), No. 7 North Iowa Area CC, No. 8 Mesa (Ariz.) CC, No. 9 Southeast (Neb.) CC and No. 10 Wallace State (Ala.) CC. North Iowa Area is the defending NJCAA Division II champions.
