NIACC men's cross country team ranked No. 9 in latest poll

MASON CITY - The NIACC men's cross country team is ranked ninth in this week's NJCAA Division I poll released by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association.

NIACC was ranked No. 10 in the previous poll.

Iowa Central is ranked No. 1 in the men's poll and Iowa Western is ranked No. 21.

NIACC sophomore Wal Khat placed 22nd in the Division II race at the University of Arkansas Chile Pepper Festival last Saturday and set the school's 8-kilometer school record in 24 minutes, 49 seconds.

Khat broke the school record held by Imad Amenzou, who set the old mark of 25:12 at the 2015 Chile Pepper Festival.

At the Chile Pepper Festival, NIACC placed 14th out of 44 teams in the Division II race with 476 points. Colorado School of Mines was the team champion with 62 points and Iowa Central was fourth with 117 points.

NIACC's Zach Freund placed 80th in 26:10, which ranks 12th on the school's all-time 8K list. Jose Aguilera was 114th in 26:40, which ranks 18th on the school's career 8K list.

The NIACC women, who were No. 21 in the last poll, dropped out of this week's poll.

The NIACC men and women return to action Oct. 14 at the Loras College Dr. Tucker Invitational in Dubuque.