NIACC men ranked 23rd in latest poll

NIACC's Daniel Hennigar (left) and Sam Pedelty compete at the Trent Smith Invitational on Oct. 12 on the NIACC campus.
NIACC's Daniel Hennigar (left) and Sam Pedelty compete at the Trent Smith Invitational on Oct. 12 on the NIACC campus.
October 17, 2018

MASON CITY - The NIACC men's cross country team is tied for 23rd with Mott CC in the third USTFCCA NJCAA Divison I poll released Wednesday.

Iowa Central is ranked No. 2, Hawkeye CC is No. 17 and Indian Hills is No. 19.

NIACC was tied for 22nd in the second poll of the season released in early October.

NIACC's Abdiaziz Wako, a sophomore, claimed the second annual Trent Smith Invitational in a personal best time of 26 minutes, 41 seconds on the 8-kilometer course on the NIACC campus on Oct. 12.

NIACC placed second with 56 points. Hawkeye CC was the team champion with 28 points.

NIACC's Gavin Connell placed fourth in a personal-best time of 26:59. Other counting scores for the Trojans were Sam Pedelty (9th in personal-best time of 27:35), Daniel Hennigar (21st in 28:12) and Zane Miller (24th in personal-best time of 28:17).

Also for the Trojans, Isaac Branstad was 25th in personal-best time of 28:26, Grant Dieken was 34th in 28:58 and Tyler Crawford was 48th in 30:03.

NIACC returns to action Oct. 26 at the NJCAA Region XI meet in Davenport.

USTFCCA NJCAA Division I men's poll

1. Central Arizona; 2. Iowa Central; 3; El Paso CC; 4. College of Southern Idaho; 5; Cloud County CC; 6. Allen CC; 7. Colby CC; 8. Hutchinson CC; 9. Paradise Valley CC; 10. South Plains College; 11. Lansing CC; 12. Trinidad State JC; 13. Louisburg College; 14. Mesa CC; 15. Ranger College; 16. Cowley County CC; 17. Hawkeye CC; 18. Muskegon CC; 19. Indian Hills; 20. Pima CC; 21. Highland (Kan.) CC; 21. Grand Rapids CC; 23. NIACC; 23. Mott CC; 25. Glendale CC.

2018 NIACC men's 8K season bests

Abdiaziz Wako 26:41 (Trent Smith Invitational, 10-12-18)

Gavin Connell 26:59 (Trent Smith Invitational, 10-12-18)

Sam Pedelty 27:35 (Trent Smith Invitational, 10-12-18)

Daniel Hennigar 28:12 (Trent Smith Invitational, 10-12-18)

Grant Dieken 28:58 (Trent Smith Invitational, 10-12-18)

Zane Miller 28:17 (Trent Smith Invitational, 10-12-18)

Isaac Branstad 28:56 (Trent Smith Invitational, 10-12-18)

Evan Wilson 29:38 (Grand View Viking Invitational, 9-14-18)

Tyler Crawford 30:03 (Trent Smith Invitational, 10-12-18)