2021 NJCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 5
NEW ORLEANS – A new team – the third this year – has overtaken the top spot in the Pre-Championships edition of the NJCAA Division II Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Lansing (Mich.) CC is the new No. 1 as three teams earned first-place votes.
All will be settled at the 2021 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships set for Saturday, November 13 at Pole Green Park near Richmond, Virginia.
NJCAA Division II — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Lansing (Mich.) CC
Lansing (Mich.) CC
2
Heartland (Ill.) CC
Heartland (Ill.) CC
3
Mesa (Ariz.) CC
Mesa (Ariz.) CC
4
Wallace State-Hanceville (Ala.) CC
Wallace State-Hanceville (Ala.) CC
5
Cowley (Kan.)
Cowley (Kan.)
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Lansing CC’s rise to No. 1 comes after an impressive victory at Region XII Championships, which featured four ranked teams as Haley Ellis – current National Athlete of the Week – won the individual title by 20 seconds. This is the highest ranking by the Stars in NJCAA Division II, although Lansing CC has been No. 1 before – they won the 2015 and 2016 NJCAA Division I Championships.
Heartland (Ill.) CC is No. 2 after owning the top spot for the last three weeks. The Hawks earned two first-place votes and won the Region XXIV Championships with Natalie Garneau earning the individual crown. She’s Heartland’s third No. 1 runner this year, joining Olivia Bloyd and Taylor Joop.
No. 3 Mesa (Ariz.) CC rose for the third week in a row and also received two first-place votes. The Thunderbirds won the Region I Championships, led by individual champ Kate Brockman.
Remaining at No. 4 is Wallace State (Ala.) CC , which scored a perfect 15 in winning the Region XXII Championships. Leading the Lions was individual champ Macie Ellis.
Defending national champion Cowley (Kan.) is No. 5. The Tigers were Region VI Champions and impressed by finishing third in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference, which combines both Division I and Division II – Cowley was ahead of six teams nationally ranked in Division I. Karissa Glover led the Tigers with the individual crown.
Completing the top-10 are No. 6 Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC, No. 7 Hawkeye (Iowa) CC, No. 8 North Iowa Area CC, No. 9 Allen (Kan.) CC and No. 10 Pasco-Hernando (Fla.). Hawkeye CC, winners of the Region XI Championships, was also a previous No. 1 this year.
