2019 NJCAA DIII Cross Country National Coaches’ Ranking – Week 4
Don’t look now, but the 2019 NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships are this weekend!
As of Saturday afternoon, we’ll know which athletes and teams stood out the most after the biggest meet of the season at Stanley Park in Westfield, Massachusetts.
From The USTFCCCA InfoZone: National Championships Central
Before all of that, it’s time that we look at the Pre-Championships Edition of the National Coaches’ Ranking that was released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
NJCAA Division III — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Mineral Area (Mo.)
Mineral Area (Mo.)
2
Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC
Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC
3
Harper (Ill.)
Harper (Ill.)
4
St. Charles (Mo.) CC
St. Charles (Mo.) CC
5
Lorain County (Ohio) CC
Lorain County (Ohio) CC
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Mineral Area (Mo.) enters the national meet as the favorite following a dominant victory at the Region XVI Championships this past weekend. The Cardinals cruised to a victory against former No. 1 St. Charles (Mo.) by a score of 20-41 as they put seven runners in the top-10.
Suffolk (N.Y.) is expected to be a thorn in the side of Mineral Area (Mo.) this weekend as Matthew French’s team enters the meet ranked second nationally. The Sharks, led by multiple-time National Athlete of the Week selection Luis Antonio Fernandez, won the Region XV title this past weekend at the Hudson Valley Sportsdome.
Coming in at No. 3 is Harper College, the eight-time defending champion. The Hawks started their dynasty in 2011 and have continued it all the way through the 2018 championships where they scored 38 points, the second fewest in the past nine years. Harper College recently won the team title at the Region IV Championships.
Other podium contenders include the aforementioned Cougars, who are ranked fourth and led by individual favorite Edwin Kipainoi, as well as fifth-ranked Lorain County (Ohio).
NJCAA Division III — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC
Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC
2
Harper (Ill.)
Harper (Ill.)
3
FIT (N.Y.)
FIT (N.Y.)
4
Camden County (N.J.)
Camden County (N.J.)
5
Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Suffolk (N.Y.) is projected to win its first national title since 2015, as it enters the national meet as the favorite. The Sharks, who recently won the Region XV team title, are led by multiple-time National Athlete of the Week selection Alexandra Smith.
Harper College has been a force at the national level and is expected to contend for yet another crown. The Hawks, who have won each of the past three national titles dating back to 2016, have a strong roster that always rounds into form when all the chips are on the table.
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) finished runner-up to Suffolk (N.Y.) at the Region XV Championships and are thought of to be a podium contender here. The Tigers jumped one spot from No. 4 to No. 3 following their effort.
Look out for Camden County (N.J.) and Westmoreland (N.Y.) as well. The former was ranked No. 4 this week after winning the Region XIX team title, while the latter was listed fifth following a team title at the Region XX Championships.
