NIACC men ranked 13th in first NJCAA Division II poll

MASON CITY - The NIACC men's cross country team is ranked 13th in the first NJCAA Division II rankings by the USTFCCCA.

Lansing CC (Michigan) is ranked first in the initial poll of the season. Cowley (Kan.) is ranked second and Heartland CC (Illinois) is ranked third.

Southeastern is ranked No. 21 and Hawkeye CC is ranked 25th.

NIACC placed 24th in the 8-kilometer Division II and III Maroon race Friday at the University of Minnesota Roy Griak Invitational on the Les Bolstad Golf Course.

The Trojans totaled 705 points in their second meet of the season.

NIACC was led by freshman Bryson Canton, who placed 123rd in a time of 27 minutes and 35 seconds. Wisconsin-La Crosse's Ethan Gregg was the individual champion in a time of 25:01.

NIACC freshman Breyden Christensen was 211th in a time of 28:55, freshman Alfred Kiptoo was 238th (29:22), freshman Jackson Chambers was 291st (30:26) and freshman Jacob Vais was 346th (32:24). Also for the Trojans, freshman Vlad Starrett was 364th (33:17) and Kason Judisch was 388th (34:58).

NIACC returns to action Oct. 7 at the Trent Smith Invitational on the NIACC campus.

USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II rankings (Sept. 21) - Lansing CC, Cowley (Kan.), Heartland CC (Illinois), Paradise Valley CC (Arizona), Allen CC (Kansas), Wallace State CC (Alabama), Mesa CC (Arizona), St. Clair County CC (Michigan), Northwest Arkansas CC, Carl Sandburg (Illinois), Moraine Valley CC (Illinois), Southwestern Michigan, NIACC, Grand Rapids CC (Michigan), Marion Military Institute (Alabama), Pasco-Hernando (Florida), Daytona State (Florida), Lake-Sumter State (Florida), UA Rich Mountain (Arkansas), State Fair (Missouri), Southeastern, Phoenix (Arizona), Redlands CC (Oklahoma), Florida State-Jacksonville, Hawkeye CC, Calhoun CC (Alabama), Oakland CC (Michigan), CCBC Essex (Maryland).