2022 NJCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 3
NEW ORLEANS – No. 1 changed for the third-straight time in the Week 3 edition of the NJCAA Division II Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, which was released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
NJCAA Division II — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Lansing (Mich.) CC
Lansing (Mich.) CC
2
Mesa (Ariz.) CC
Mesa (Ariz.) CC
3
Heartland (Ill.) CC
Heartland (Ill.) CC
4
Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC
Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC
5
Wallace State-Hanceville (Ala.) CC
Wallace State-Hanceville (Ala.) CC
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Lansing (Mich.) CC regained the top spot after a dominating victory at the Muskegon Jayhawk Invitational. The defending national champions were led by Olivia Vanderwey, individual runner-up and just 0.4 seconds ahead of teammate Haley Ellis. Vanderwey – the M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week – had two former honorees in her wake.
Mesa (Ariz.) CC dropped to No. 2 but had a big win a week ago at the Manny Bautista Invitational as the Thunderbirds beat reigning California CC champion Mt. SAC as well as NJCAA DI No. 8 Central Arizona. Kate Brockman, reigning national runner-up, earned a second M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week honor this with her runner-up finish.
Holding steady at No. 3 is Heartland (Ill.) CC, its highest since being No. 1 three times last year. The Hawks were the top JUCO program in the Bradley Pink Classic White Division.
Moving up two positions to No. 4 is Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC, matching the program’s high from Week 1 of last year. The Raiders were behind only Lansing among JUCO programs at the Muskegon Jayhawk Invitational.
No. 5 remains Wallace State (Ala.) CC, which has occupied this placing all year. The Lions were the leading JUCO program at the Crimson Classic.
Completing the top-10: No. 6 Pasco-Hernando State (Fla.), No. 7 Daytona State (Fla.), No. 8 Cowley (Kan.), No. 9 Southwestern (Mich.) CC and No. 10 Southeastern (Iowa) CC.
Just over three weeks away is the 2022 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, which are set for Saturday, November 12 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.
