2024 NJCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Preseason
NEW ORLEANS – Mesa (Ariz.) CC topped several of last year’s leading contenders in the preseason edition of the 2024 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).
Mesa earned nine first-place votes as only in-state rival Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC was the only program named rated No. 1 with three first-place votes.
The 2024 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships are set to take place at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, November 9.
National Coaches’ Polls are presented by AthleticNET.
NJCAA Division II — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Mesa (Ariz.) CC
Mesa (Ariz.) CC
2
Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
3
Des Moines Area (Iowa) CC
Des Moines Area (Iowa) CC
4
Cowley (Kan.)
Cowley (Kan.)
5
Daytona State (Fla.)
Daytona State (Fla.)
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Mesa returns three scorers from last year’s team that finished fourth at the national championships, led by third-placer Carmella Baldwin. However, it was four freshmen (led by Kinley Jackson) who were the Thunderbirds’ top runners in last weekend’s Lori Fitzgerald Memorial.
No. 2 Paradise Valley returns four scorers from last year’s third-place squad, let by fifth-placer Keira Damron. The Pumas have yet to race this year.
Des Moines Area (Iowa) CC is No. 3, a program-high showing in the poll. The Bears return three of their top-4 from the group that finished fifth last year, a program best. That includes top-2 Kayden Spencer and Grace Collins (15th and 21st last year, respectively).
Defending champion Cowley (Kan.) is No. 4. The Tigers return just one runner from that team – 16th-placer Kayli Myers – and add several newcomers.
No. 5 Daytona State (Fla.) finished sixth in last year’s nationals. The Falcons also bring back just one runner – Francesca Azzolini – while adding a new class.
Rounding out the top-10: No. 6 Heartland (Ill.) CC, No. 7 Wallace State (Ala.) CC, No. 8 Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC and a tie for No. 9 between Lansing (Mich.) CC and Southeastern (Iowa) CC.
