NIACC women move to 8th in latest poll
MASON CITY - The NIACC women's cross country team is ranked eighth in the fifth USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II poll released on Wednesday.
NIACC was ranked 12th in the Oct. 20 poll. It is the second time this season that the Trojans have been ranked in the top 10 - they were ranked seventh in the preseason poll.
Last Friday at the NJCAA Region XI Division II meet in Waterloo, the Trojans placed second with 42 points. No. 7 Hawkeye CC was the team champion. No. 15 DMACC was third with 50 points and No. 21 Southeastern was fourth with 82 points.
The second-place finish by the NIACC women is the highest since the Trojans placed second in 2014 when it was a one-division race.
NIACC was led by sophomore standout Sarah Bertry, who claimed her second straight regional title in a personal-best time of 18 minutes, 1 second on the 5-kilometer course. Bertry's time of 18:01 ranks second on the school's all-time list.
NIACC's other four runners on Friday recorded personal bests, as well. Lilly Stockberger earned second-team all-region honors with a fifth-place finish in a personal-best time of 21:11.
NIACC's Brianna Ross and Madisyn Heller earned honorable mention all-region honors. Ross was ninth in a personal-best time of 21:28 and Heller was 12th in a personal-best 22:19.
Also for the Trojans, Mercy Melly was 15th in a personal-best 23:12.
Lansing CC (Mich.) is ranked No. 1 and Heartland CC is ranked No. 2.
NIACC, which placed 10th at the 2020 national meet, returns to action Nov. 13 at the NJCAA Division II national meet in Richmond, Va.
NIACC WOMEN IN THE POLLS
Sept. 8 - 7th; Sept. 22 - 13th; Oct. 6 - 15th; Oct. 20 - 12th; Nov. 3 - 8th.
USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II women's cross country poll (Nov. 3, 2021)
- Lansing CC; 2. Heartland CC; 3. Mesa CC; 4. Wallace State CC; 5. Cowley (Kan.); 6. Grand Rapids CC; 7. Hawkeye CC; 8. NIACC; 9. Allen CC; 10. Pasco-Hernando; 11. Daytona State; 12. St. Clair County CC; 13. Paradise Valley CC; 14. Florida Gateway; 15. DMACC; 16. Kaskaskia (Ill.); 17. UA Rich Mountain; 18. South Florida State; 19. Southwestern Michigan; 20. Moraine Valley CC; 21. Southeastern; 22. Carl Sandburg; 23. Calhoun CC; 24. Lake-Sumter State; 25. Sauk Valley CC; 25. Waubonsee CC
