2020 NJCAA DIII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Ranking – Week 4
NEW ORLEANS – Joliet (Ill.) JC has been the favorite all year long to win the women’s team title at the 2020 NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships.
That wasn’t going to change in the NJCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Ranking of the regular season, as the Wolves held down the No. 1 spot for the fourth week in a row. Joining Joliet (Ill.) JC in the pre-championship top-5 was No. 2 Kellogg (Mich.) CC, No. 3 Georgia Military College, No. 4 Westmoreland County (Pa.) CC and No. 5 Lorain County (Ohio) CC.
NJCAA Division III — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Joliet (Ill.) JC
Joliet (Ill.) JC
2
Kellogg (Mich.) CC
Kellogg (Mich.) CC
3
Georgia Military
Georgia Military
4
Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County
5
Lorain County (Ohio) CC
Lorain County (Ohio) CC
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Tiffany Lehmann is the leader of the Wolves and prohibitive favorite to win the individual title come November 14. Lehmann, running in the first cross country season of her life, has been named National Athlete of the Week five times, tying the most honors given out to an NJCAA Division III female athlete in award history. JJC surrounds their star with talent, though, as it most recently put five athletes in the top-10 at the Kishwaukee Halloween Hootenanny.
Kellogg (Mich.) CC is a new addition to the top-5 and stormed into the rankings following a dominant victory at the Region XII Championships this past weekend. Hannah Wilkinson, Emma Berning and Kennedy Vanderlugt went 1-2-3 in Lansing, Michigan, as the Bruins scored just 20 points to toppled former No. 3 Lorain County (Ohio) CC. Wilkinson should be a contender for the individual crown with her most recent performance – a 20:43.2 victory over the 5K distance.
Georgia Military College sits third in the pre-championship index, up one spot from Week 3 after winning the Region XVII crown a few weeks ago. Former National Athlete of the Week Paige White finished runner-up as six other Bulldogs followed in order behind her.
Westmoreland County (Pa.) CC dropped two spots to No. 4 to no fault of its own. The Wolfpack looked strong this past weekend at the Region XX Championships with four runners in the top-10, led by a 1-2 finish by Jenn Depree and Olivia Jumper.
Former No. 3 Lorain County (Ohio) CC rounds out the top-5 in Week 4 after sliding two spots. The Commodores finished runner-up at the Region XII Championships with 35 points. Kelsey Gannon and Mackenzie Glass both finished in the top-5 at the meet.
