2024 NJCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 2
NEW ORLEANS – Two rivals from Arizona earned all of the first-place votes in the Week 2 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).
National Coaches’ Polls are presented by AthleticNET.
NJCAA Division II — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
2
Mesa (Ariz.) CC
Mesa (Ariz.) CC
3
Wallace State-Hanceville (Ala.) CC
Wallace State-Hanceville (Ala.) CC
4
Des Moines Area (Iowa) CC
Des Moines Area (Iowa) CC
4
Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC
Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC soared up eight positions to No. 1 with its first two races of the year occurring since the Week 1 poll. The Pumas collected nine first-place votes with impressive showings in defeating previous No. 1 Mesa (Ariz.) CC at both the UC Riverside Invitational and Arizona CCAC Championships. Keira Damron, who was fifth in last year’s NJCAA DII Cross Country Championships, led PVCC in both meets, including winning the ACCAC title.
Mesa drops to No. 2 and received three first-place votes. Kinley Jackson has been the Thunderbirds’ top runner in two of their three meets, with fellow freshman Lucy Melzer earning honors in the other meet.
Wallace State (Ala.) CC drops a notch to No. 3. Freshman Reagan Parris has now led the Lions in three of their four races.
There’s a tie at No. 4. Des Moines Area (Iowa) CC, which started No. 3 in the preseason poll, is led by Kayden Spencer while Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC has seen Erica Land lead the way in all three of its meets.
Rounding out the top-10 are No. 6 Pasco-Hernando (Fla.), No. 7 Cowley (Kan.), No. 8 Lansing (Mich.) CC, No. 9 Heartland (Ill.) CC and No. 10 UA Rich Mountain (Ark.). Cowley was the poll’s biggest mover this week, rising 14 positions.
The season culminates on Saturday, November 9, when the 2024 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships will be held at Pole Green Park near Richmond, Virginia.
