NIACC women ranked 6th in first poll

MASON CITY - The NIACC women's cross country team is ranked sixth in the first USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II poll, which was released Wednesday.

For the first time in 17 years, the NJCAA will crown national champions in cross country in divisions I, II and III. Before this season, the NIACC women competed in NJCAA Division I.

The last time the NIACC women were ranked in the top 10 was week one of the 2019 season when the Lady Trojans competed in NJCAA Division I.

Cowley (Kan.) is ranked No. 1 in the initial NJCAA Division II poll. Hawkeye CC is ranked second, Grand Rapids CC (Mich.) is third, St. Clair County CC (Mich.) is fourth and Pasco-Hernando (Fla.) is fifth. 

On Saturday, NIACC freshman Sarah Bertry placed third at the Grand View Open Saturday on the DMACC campus in Ankeny.

Bertry, who is from France, covered the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 12 seconds, which is the fourth fastest 5K time in school history.

NIACC placed fourth in the team standings with 122 points in its first meet of the season. Iowa Central, which competes in NJCAA Division I, was the team champion with 24 points and Hawkeye CC was second with 58 points.

Also for the NIACC women, sophomore Whitney Martin was 26th in 22:37, Lauren Kern was 31st in 23:29, Addy Witt was 33rd in 23:38 and Ashley Kriener was 40th in 24:43.

 The NIACC women return to action Friday at the Grand View Viking Invitational.

USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II women's poll

Cowley (Kan.), Hawkeye CC, Grand Rapids CC (Mich.), St. Clair County CC, Pasco-Hernando (Fla.), NIACC, Daytona State, Jackson (Mich.), Muskegon CC (Mich.), South Florida State, Marion Militiary Institute (Ala.), Mott CC (Mich.), Florida State-Jacksonville, Lake Sumter State (Fla.), Pensacola State, Macomb CC (Mich.), Oakland CC (Mich.), Wayne County CCD (Mich.)