NIACC men ranked 12th in latest cross country poll

NIACC sophomore Blake Keller runs to a sixth-place finish at the Griak Invitational on Sept. 23.

October 4, 2017

MASON CITY - The NIACC men's cross country team is ranked No. 12 in the second USTFCCA NJCAA Division I rankings released Wednesday.

The Trojans are one of four ICCAC teams ranked in the top 25. Iowa Central is No. 1, Hawkeye CC is No. 22 and Indian Hills is tied with Highland CC (Kansas) at No. 24.

NIACC, which has been ranked in the top 15 for nine straight polls dating back to 2015, was ranked No. 6 in the initial 2017 poll on Sept. 20.

NIACC is coming off a second-place finish in the Division III race at the University of Minnesota Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 23. Freshman Brian Jacques won the Griak Invite in a time of 27 minutes, 7 seconds on the 8-kilometer course and sophomore Blake Keller was sixth in 28:26.

NIACC returns to action Saturday at the St. Ambrose Fighting Bee Invitational in Bettendorf.

USTFCCCA NJCAA Division I rankings

Iowa Central, Central Arizona, South Plains (Texas), Paradise Valley CC (Arizona), Allen CC (Kansas), Louisburg (N.C.), Mesa CC (Arizona), Lansing CC (Michigan), Butler CC (Kansas), Vincennes (Indiana), El Paso CC (Texas), NIACC, Grand Rapids CC (Michigan), Ranger (Texas), Western Texas, Glendale CC (Arizona), Colby CC (Kansas), Monroe (N.Y.), Cloud County CC (Kansas), Southern Idaho, Pima CC (Arizona), Hawkeye CC, Macomb CC (Michigan), Indian Hills, Highland CC (Kansas).

NIACC MEN'S RECENT HISTORY IN THE POLLS

2017

Sept. 20 - 6th

Oct. 4 - 12th

2016

Sept. 14 - 8th

Sept. 21 - 10th

Oct. 5 - 9th

Oct. 19 - 9th

Nov. 2 - 9th

Nov. 9 - 8th

2015

Sept. 16 - 10th

Sept. 30 - 16th

Oct. 14 - 18th

Oct. 28 - 21st

Nov. 11 - 19th