NIACC men ranked 21st in latest poll

NIACC's Gavin Connell runs at the regional meet in Bettendorf on Oct. 26.

October 31, 2018

MASON CITY - The NIACC men's cross country team moved up two spots to No. 21 in the fourth USTFCCA NJCAA Divison I poll released Wednesday.

Iowa Central is ranked No. 1, Hawkeye CC is No. 14 and Indian Hills is No. 20.

NIACC was tied for 23rd in the third poll of the season released on Oct. 17.

NIACC placed third at the NJCAA Region XI meet last Friday in Bettendorf. Iowa Central was the regional champion with Hawkeye CC playing second and Indian Hills fourth.

NIACC's Abdiaziz Wako and Gavin Connell both earned second-team all-region honors at the regional meet.

Wako was eighth with a personal-best time of 26 minutes, 19 seconds on the 8-kilometer course. Wako's time moved him into a tie for 16th on NIACC's all-time best list.

Connell was 11th in a personal-best time of 26:42.

Also earning all-region honors for the Trojans were honorable mention performers Sam Pedelty, who was 23rd in a personal-best time of 27:16, and Isaac Branstad, who was 24th in a personal-best time of 27:21.

The NIACC men will compete in the NJCAA Division I national meet in Garden City, Kan. on Nov. 10.

USTFCCA NJCAA Division I men's poll

1. Iowa Central; 2. Central Arizona; 3; El Paso CC; 4. Hutchinson CC; 5. Southern Idaho; 6. Colby CC; 7. Allen CC; 8. Cloud County CC; 9. South Plains; 10. Paradise Valley CC; 11. Lansing CC; 12. Trinidad State JC; 13. Louisburg College; 14. Hawkeye CC; 15. Mesa CC; 16. Cowley County CC; 17. Ranger College; 18. Huskegon CC; 19. Highland (Kan.) CC; 20. Indian Hills; 21. NIACC; 22. Pima CC; 23. Mott CC; 24. Grand Rapids CC; 24. Waubonsee CC.

2018 NIACC men's 8K season bests

Abdiaziz Wako 26:19 (NJCAA Region XI meet, 10-26-18)

Gavin Connell 26:42 (NJCAA Region XI meet, 10-26-18)

Sam Pedelty 27:16 (NJCAA Region XI meet, 10-26-18)

Isaac Branstad 27:21 (NJCAA Region XI meet, 10-26-18)

Daniel Hennigar 27:57 (NJCAA Region XI meet, 10-26-18)

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

Grant Dieken 28:37 (NJCAA Region XI meet, 10-26-18)

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

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