NIACC men ranked 12th in national poll

MASON CITY - The NIACC men's cross country team is ranked 12th in the fourth USTFCCCA NJCAA Division I poll released Wednesday.

Cloud County CC (Kansas) is ranked No. 1 in the men's poll and Iowa Central is ranked second. Iowa Western is ranked fifth, Hawkeye CC is 18th, Indian Hills is 20th and Southwestern is tied for 24th.

NIACC, which was 17th in the Oct. 16 poll. placed third at the NJCAA Region XI meet last Friday in Ottumwa.

Four NIACC men's runners earned all-region honors. Freshman Jorge Ruiz earned second-team all-region honors with an 11th place finish in a personal-best time of 25 minutes, 30 seconds in the 8-kilometer race.

Ruiz' time of 25:30 ranks fifth on the school's all-time list.

Earning honorable mention all-region honors for the Trojans were Janvier Irakoze (17th in 25:48), Jalen Petersen (21st in 26:00) and Aidan Bauermeister (23rd in 26:06).

Dawson Schmidt was 33rd in 26:29.

Irakoze's time of 25:48 is tied for 10th on the school's all-time 8K list. Petersen's time of 26:00 is 15th on the school's all-time list, Bauermeister's 26:06 ranks 17th and Schmidt's 26:29 ranks 22nd.

Also for the Trojans at the regional meet, Evan Wilson was 34th (26:38), Sam Pedelty was 40th (27:08), Ellis Regan was 44th (27:18), Mason Deeter was 50th (27:31), Matthew Dibbern was 55th (27:57) and Paul Roehr was 80th (30:07).

NIACC will run in the national meet on Nov. 9 in Albuqerque, N.M.

USTFCCCA NJCAA Division I poll (Oct. 30, 2019)

1. Cloud County CC (Kansas); 2. Iowa Central; 3. El Paso CC; 4. Central Arizona; 5. Southern Idaho; 5. Iowa Western; 7. Hutchinson CC; 8. Trinidad State JC; 9. Allen CC; 10. Colby CC; 11. Lansing CC; 12. NIACC; 13. Mesa CC; 14. Ranger (Texas); 15. New Mexico JC; 16. Paradise Valley CC; 17. Vincennes; 18. Hawkeye CC; 19. Monroe (N.Y.); 20. Indian Hills; 21. Western Texas; 21. Fort Scott CC; 21. Cowley (Kan.) 24. Southwestern (Iowa); 24. Highland (Kan.) CC.

IN THE POLLS

Sept. 18 - 10th

Oct. 2 - 15th

Oct. 16 - 17th

Oct. 30 - 12th