2022 NJCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 3
NEW ORLEANS – There were seven changes of position in the Week 3 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
El Paso (Texas) CC
El Paso (Texas) CC
5
Fort Hays Tech Northwest (Kan.)
Fort Hays Tech Northwest (Kan.)
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Those seven changes, however, do not include the top-3, which repeated their placings and point totals.
Colby (Kan.) CC continues at No. 1, collecting every first-place vote for the third-straight time. Led by undefeated Sanele Masondo, the Trojans narrowly lost their own Trojan Invitational, 40-41, to Air Force, now ranked No. 5 in NCAA DI.
Repeating at No. 2 is Iowa Central CC, runner-up in the Drews/Neubauer Invitational by seven points behind UW-La Crosse, now ranked No. 4 in NCAA DIII. The Tritons were led by individual winner Aspel Kiprob, last year’s runner-up at the NJCAA DI Cross Country Championships. Iowa Central is seeking a third-straight national team title.
New Mexico JC remains No. 3 after winning its own New Mexico JC Invitational II, 29-45, over El Paso (Texas) CC, which moved up one spot to No. 4 – the Tejanos’ highest ranking since being No. 2 in 2019. Both squads had firepower up front as El Paso’s Adams Biwott held off the 2-3-4 of the T-Birds that was led by previously undefeated German Vega.
Completing the top-5 – and making its first such appearance time since being No. 4 last year – is Northwest Kansas Tech. The Mavericks were fourth as the second JUCO program at the Trojan Invitational.
Rounding out the top-10 are No. 6 Salt Lake (Utah) CC, No. 7 Central Arizona, No. 8 College of Southern Idaho, No. 9 Iowa Western CC and No. 10 Trinidad State (Colo.).
Just over three weeks away is the 2022 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, which are set for Saturday, November 12 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.
