2020 NJCAA DI Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 5
NEW ORLEANS – It appears to be a two-team race for the women’s title at the upcoming 2020 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, according to the most recent National Coaches’ Poll that was released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Three-time defending champion Iowa Central CC and upstart Cloud County CC both received first-place votes from the electorate in Week 5. The Tritons hauled in a lioness’ share of those with six first-place votes, compared to just one for the second-ranked T-Birds.
NJCAA Division I — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Iowa Central CC
Iowa Central CC
2
Cloud County (Kan.) CC
Cloud County (Kan.) CC
3
Colby (Kan.) CC
Colby (Kan.) CC
4
Iowa Western CC
Iowa Western CC
5
Southern Idaho
Southern Idaho
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Iowa Central CC is looking to do something it has never done before – string together four consecutive titles. Dating back to 2007, when the Tritons won their first crown, they have twice won three in a row from 2011 to 2013 and now from 2017 to 2019. Six years ago, El Paso CC played spoiler and dashed Iowa Central CC’s dreams of a four-peat.
There is good reason as to why the Tritons are ranked No. 1. Iowa Central CC has been on a roll this season, most recently winning the Region XI title with 21 points after putting six runners in the top-11. Former National Athlete of the Week Eleonora Curtabbi and Rosalie Fish paced the Tritons this past weekend in second and third, just like they have all season long.
Cloud County CC recently proved its mettle at the Region VI Championships, where it thumped four other top-10 teams from the previous National Coaches’ Poll. Former National Athlete of the Week Patricia Koma led the way for the T-Birds as regional runner-up, while four of her teammates followed suit in the top-10 in fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth. Cloud County CC must have that same kind of depth in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to keep up with Iowa Central CC.
Colby CC is the clear third-ranked team in Week 5 and finished second among NJCAA DI programs at the Region VI Championships. Former National Athlete of the Week Abigael Kemboi, who finished third in the region, is a true low stick for the Trojans, but they need their other runners to pack up well behind her to bolster their chances.
No. 4 Iowa Western CC and No. 5 College of Southern Idaho are also expected to contend for podium spots, while No. 6 Dodge City CC, No. 7 Hutchinson CC, No. 8 Ranger College, No. 9 Butler CC and No. 10 Vincennes University round out the top-10 teams.
