2021 NJCAA DIII Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Ranking – Week 1
NEW ORLEANS – We’re several weeks into the 2021 season!
There’s no time like the present to debut the NJCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Ranking, as 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
Joliet (Ill.) JC
Joliet (Ill.) JC
2
DuPage (Ill.)
DuPage (Ill.)
3
SUNY Broome CC
SUNY Broome CC
4
Mineral Area (Mo.)
Mineral Area (Mo.)
5
St. Charles (Mo.) CC
St. Charles (Mo.) CC
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Joliet (Ill.) JC, which finished second at the 2020 NJCAA DIII Cross Country Championships, owns the top spot in the first index. The Wolves return five of the athletes who competed for them last fall, including fifth-place individual finisher Julian Rosenbach. JJC already raced three times this season and turned in a stellar effort at the Aurora Spartan Classic, where it was the top JUCO program in the field.
College of DuPage, which didn’t compete at the 2020 NJCAA DIII Cross Country Championships, sit second to begin the season. The Chaps competed once so far this season, posting a sixth-place finish at the Elmhurst Earlybird Invitational as the top JUCO program.
SUNY Broome CC, which didn’t compete at the 2020 NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, holds down the No. 3 spot. The Hornets opened the season at the Frank Dillon Memorial Le Moyne Invitational three weeks ago and placed fourth in the team standings.
Mineral Area (Ill.) CC, which won the team title at the 2020 NCJAA Division III Cross Country Championships, return just two of its top-5 athletes from that team, but those two athletes – Kyle Vinyard and Caleb Wicklund – finished among the top-6 individuals. The Cardinals raced at the Prairie Star Invitational a few weeks ago and took fourth place as a team.
St. Charles (Mo.) CC, which finished fourth at the 2020 NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, rounds out the top-5 to start the season. The Cougars return four of their five athletes from that squad, including top-20 finisher Ryan Pendergast. SCCC competed twice so far this season, taking fifth place as a team at the Prairie Star Invitational for their top result.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 13, because that’s when the 2021 NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Georgia.
