2020 NJCAA DIII Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Ranking – Week 4
NEW ORLEANS – Mineral Area (Mo.) is expected to repeat as national champions, according to the final NJCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Ranking for the 2020 season.
Actually, the top-4 teams remained the same for the second week in a row as the top-ranked Cardinals lead No. 2 Joliet (Ill.) JC, No. 3 Finger Lakes (N.Y.) CC and Georgia Military College with Lorain County (Ohio) CC jumping two spots into the top-5 from No. 7.
NJCAA Division III — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Mineral Area (Mo.)
Mineral Area (Mo.)
2
Joliet (Ill.) JC
Joliet (Ill.) JC
3
Finger Lakes (N.Y.) CC
Finger Lakes (N.Y.) CC
4
Georgia Military
Georgia Military
5
Lorain County (Ohio) CC
Lorain County (Ohio) CC
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Mineral Area (Mo.) has been firing on all cylinders as the postseason approached, winning three consecutive team titles – most recently at the Region XVI Championships where it beat St. Charles (Mo.), which is another top-10 ranked program. Three-time National Athlete of the Week Donovan Denslow continues to lead the Cardinals and is considered a favorite for the individual title on November 14.
Joliet (Ill.) JC is projected to be the next best contender for the national title in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The Wolves recently competed at the Halloween Hootenanny hosted by Kishwaukee College and fared well, placing four runners in the top-10. Former National Athlete of the Week Julian Rosenbach is among those athletes expected to vie for the NJCAA individual title.
Finger Lakes (N.Y.) CC recently proved its mettle, winning a close team battle at the Region III Championships against another top-5 program in SUNY Corning (N.Y.) CC. The Lakers put all five of their scoring athletes in the top-15 – led by individual champion and two-time National Athlete of the Week Hunter Brignall – and won by six points, 42-48.
Georgia Military College comes into the national meet having most recently placed second at the Region XVII Championships. The Bulldogs have some bark and bite at the top of their lineup with regional runner-up Heath McDonald and third-place finisher Daniel Turnipseed.
Lorain County (Ohio) CC recently won the team title at the Region XII Championships. Three Commodores finished in the top-5, led by regional runner-up Mackenzie Deibel and third-place man Charlie Yonts. LCCC jumped two spots in the national rankings after the win.
