2022 NJCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 2
NEW ORLEANS – The leading duo remained the same, but there was significant shakeup in the Week 2 NJCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, which was released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
NJCAA Division I — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Colby (Kan.) CC
Colby (Kan.) CC
2
Iowa Central CC
Iowa Central CC
3
New Mexico JC
New Mexico JC
4
Trinidad State (Colo.)
Trinidad State (Colo.)
5
El Paso (Texas) CC
El Paso (Texas) CC
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Colby (Kan.) CC followed up its first-ever No. 1 ranking with a repeat honor at the top. The Trojans were impressive as runner-up in the Chile Pepper Festival, trailing only host Arkansas (ranked No. 21 in NCAA DI) in the McDonnell Memorial race. Colby is led by undefeated Sanele Masondo, who has twice this season been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week.
Repeating at No. 2 is Iowa Central CC, a strong fourth in the Chile Pepper Festival’s McDonnell Memorial race. The Tritons are led by Aspel Kiprob, last year’s runner-up for Iowa Central, which is seeking a third-straight national team title.
The biggest mover in the top-10 was No. 3 New Mexico JC, which climbed up four places since the Week 1 poll. The T-Birds have been busy, winning the South Plains Invitational (a perfect 15 points) and their own New Mexico JC Invitational (17 points), both times led by 1-2 finishes from brothers German and Tomas Vega. Their scorers include Evans Pololet, last year’s NJCAA Outdoor 1500 champion.
Trinidad State (Colo.) drops one position to No. 4. The Trojans haven’t competed since the Week 1 poll, when they opened at a program-high No. 3 following impressive showings at the Joe I. Vigil and Greeno/Dirksen meets in September.
Moving up a spot to No. 5 is El Paso (Texas) CC, whose last event was the NCAA DI-dominated Cowboy Jamboree. The T-Birds are led by Adams Biwott, who was eighth in last year’s national championships.
Rounding out the top-10 are No. 6 Northwest Kansas Tech, No. 7 Butler (Kan.) CC, No. 8 Salt Lake (Utah) CC, No. 9 Central Arizona and No. 10 Iowa Western CC.
The 2022 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday, November 12 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.
