NJCAA DIII National Coaches’ Rankings Make 2016 Debut

NEW ORLEANS – If the first NJCAA DIII Cross Country National Coaches’ Rankings hold true through the National Championships in Canadaigua, New York, on November 12, it’ll be a good fall in Palatine, Illinois.

That’s the locale of Harper College, the school that sits atop both the men’s and women’s rankings announced Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Harper’s men are the defending NJCAA DIII national champions, while the Hawks women return as the national runners-up from a year ago.

No. 2 Howard CC (Md.) and No. 3 Joliet JC checked in just behind the Hawks men, despite not posting team scores at nationals last season. Rounding out the men’s top-five were Cumberland County and Bergen CC – last year’s 13th- and 10th-place finishers, respectively.

Reigning runner-up Mohawk Valley CC came in at No. 6.

Like their male teammates, the Harper women were followed up by two squads that did not score at the NJCAA Championships a year ago in No. 2 Columbus State CC and No. 3 Mercer County CC.

No. 4 Joliet JC finished fifth a year ago, while No. 5 Orange County CC did not score.

Reigning national champion Suffolk County CC registered at No. 10.

See the full rankings below.