2019 NJCAA DI Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 2
NEW ORLEANS – Cloud County CC and Iowa Central CC remain at the top of the NJCAA Division I Cross Country National Polls, but there was plenty of movement behind them.
Expect additional movement as the countdown finds us five weeks away from the 2019 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 9, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
NJCAA Division I — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Cloud County (Kan.) CC
Cloud County (Kan.) CC
2
Iowa Central CC
Iowa Central CC
3
Central Arizona
Central Arizona
4
El Paso (Texas) CC
El Paso (Texas) CC
5
Hutchinson (Kan.) CC
Hutchinson (Kan.) CC
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Clound County CC continued as the nation’s hottest team, finishing as the top JUCO squad at the Woody Greeno/Jay Dirksen Invitational on September 21 and Emporia State Invitational on September 28, the latter while resting top runner Dais Malebana. The T-Birds actually strengthened its grip on the No. 1 position, increasing its first-place votes by two (now with 8 of the 10) and points by six (at 197, just 3 away from being unanimous).
Iowa Central CC and Central Arizona College switched positions, with Iowa Central moving ahead of Central Arizona by just one point. Central Arizona, which received the other two first-place votes not going to Cloud County, is defending national champs. One or the other has been national champion every year since 2012.
El Paso CC remains at No. 4, while Hutchinson CC moved up two spots to No. 5.
Making the biggest move in the poll is Paradise Valley CC, which zoomed up to No. 11 after not receiving any votes in the last poll. The Pumas – fourth at last year’s nationals – started the season only last weekend, winning the AACAC Championships.
NJCAA Division I — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Iowa Central CC
Iowa Central CC
2
El Paso (Texas) CC
El Paso (Texas) CC
3
South Plains (Texas)
South Plains (Texas)
4
Central Arizona
Central Arizona
5
Southern Idaho
Southern Idaho
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Iowa Central CC continues its trek for a three-peat, maintaining its position as unanimous No. 1. The Tritons were the top JUCO squad in the Woody Greeno/Jay Dirksen Invitational on September 21, finishing 2nd to NCAA DI Iowa.
El Paso CC and South Plains College remain at Nos. 2 and 3. El Paso, defending national runner-up, easily won the Saints Collegiate Invitational on September 21. Their only blemish is a narrow loss to NCAA DI UTEP. South Plains beat then-No. 4 New Mexico JC two weeks in a row, most recently at the latter’s own invitational. The South Plains Open this weekend will see the two Texas powers collide.
Moving up to Nos. 4 and 5 are Central Arizona College and College of Southern Idaho. Central Arizona gained two spots after winning the team title at the ACCAC Championships, while Southern Idaho, third at last years nationals, was third in Saturday’s Ken Garland Classic.
Just one point out of the top five is Monroe, moving up from No. 10. Late-starting Paradise Valley CC made the poll’s biggest jump, debuting at No. 12.
