2022 NJCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 1
NEW ORLEANS – There’s a new name at the top of the NJCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll as Colby (Kan.) CC has its first-ever No. 1 ranking.
NJCAA Division I — Men's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Colby (Kan.) CC
Colby (Kan.) CC
2
Iowa Central CC
Iowa Central CC
3
Trinidad State (Colo.)
Trinidad State (Colo.)
4
Fort Hays Tech Northwest (Kan.)
Fort Hays Tech Northwest (Kan.)
5
Central Arizona
Central Arizona
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
The Week 1 edition of the poll – released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) – previews a potential thrilling season as the Trojans are ahead of two-time reigning champion Iowa Central CC. The 2022 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday, November 12 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.
Colby opened the year at the Greeno/Dirksen Invitational this past weekend, winning the Gold Division team title as individual champ Sanele Masondo led three Trojans to top-10 finishes. Colby – a unanimous selection at No. 1 – had a previous high ranking in the polls of No. 2, achieved three times last year.
Iowa Central CC follows at No. 2. The Tritons have finished in the top-3 in the national championships every year since 2013. Trinidad State (Colo.) is No. 3, their highest-ever appearance in this poll (previous best was No. 6 in 2019), while Northwest Kansas Tech is No. 4, matching its best ever (twice last year).
Central Arizona is No. 5, its first appearance in the top-5 since being No. 1 in 2018, the last year the Vaqueros won the NJCAA Division I team title.
Completing the top-10 are No. 6 El Paso (Texas) CC, No. 7 New Mexico JC, No. 8 Southern Idaho, No. 9 Butler (Kan.) CC and No. 10 Iowa Western CC. Butler features one of the leading individuals in Rodgers Rotich, who is undefeated in two races.
