2022 NJCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 1
NEW ORLEANS – It’s a tight race right from the start in the NJCAA Division II Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, which was released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
NJCAA Division II — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Lansing (Mich.) CC
Lansing (Mich.) CC
2
Mesa (Ariz.) CC
Mesa (Ariz.) CC
3
Cowley (Kan.)
Cowley (Kan.)
4
Heartland (Ill.) CC
Heartland (Ill.) CC
5
Wallace State (Ala.) CC
Wallace State (Ala.) CC
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
The Week 1 edition shows just one point separating No. 1 Lansing (Mich.) and No. 2 Mesa (Ariz.) CC, with the defending champion Stars enjoying a 7-4 lead in first-place votes over the Thunderbirds from the Grand Canyon state.
The two programs have claimed the first two M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week this year – Barbara DeGood of Lansing after Mesa’s Kate Brockman earned the season’s first honor. Brockman is the top individual returner from last year (when she was runner-up), while DeGood is a new addition to the Lansing champions who return five of seven runners from last year.
The remainder of the top-5 are top-5 finishers from last year. No. 3 Cowley (Kan.) was fourth last year after winning the 2020 national title, and No. 4 Heartland (Ill.) CC was runner-up the last two years. Wallace State (Ala.) CC is No. 5, the same spot they finished in last year.
Completing the top-10: No. 6 Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC, No. 7 Coconino (Ariz.) CC, No. 8 Southwestern Michigan CC, No. 9 Pasco-Hernando State (Fla.) and No. 10 Daytona State (Fla.).
