MASON CITY – The NIACC men’s cross country made history.
For the first time in school history, the Trojans sit atop the USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II cross country 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 men competed in NJCAA Division I.
The Trojans earned the unanimous spot as they received all four first-place votes.
The last time the NIACC men were ranked in the top 10 was week one of the 2017 poll when it the Trojans competed in NJCAA Division I.
Hawkeye CC is ranked second in the initial poll and is the only other ICCAC school ranked in the top 20. Allen CC (Kan.), Cowley (Kan.), Daytona State and Lake Sumter State (Fla.) round out the top five.
NIACC opened its season with a second-place finish at the Grand View Open last Saturday at the DMACC campus in Ankeny. Iowa Central, which competes in NJCAA Division I, won the meet and Hawkeye CC placed third.
Freshman Melvin Kipkemboi led the Trojans with a third-place finish in a time of 16 minutes, 2 seconds on the 5-kilometer course. Iowa Central’s Kelvin Bungei was the individual champion in a time of 15:17.
NIACC sophomore Jorge Ruiz was fifth in a time of 16:15 and sophomore Janvier Irakoze was 12th in 16:48. Sophomore Jalen Petersen was 17th in 17:06 and sophomore Stephen Ringo was 19th in 17:16.
Also for the Trojans, Richard Marcoux was 29th (17:31), Caleb Sledd was 30th (17:31), Ben Ellis was 37th (17:51), Stephen Votaw was 42nd (18:08) and Bryden Juelsgaard was 53rd (18:47).
The NIACC men return to action Friday at the Grand View Viking Invitational.
USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II men’s poll
NIACC, Hawkeye CC, Allen CC (Kan.), Cowley (Kan.), Daytona State, Lake Sumter State (Fla.), Grand Rapids CC (Mich.), Metropolitian CC (Mo.), Marion Militiary Institute (Ala.), Jackson (Mich.), St. Clair County (Mich), Macomb CC (Mich.), Florida State-Jacksonville, Oakland CC (Mich.), Danville Area CC (Ill.), Ancilla (Ind.), Alpena CC (Mich.), Muskegon CC (Mich.), Mott CC (Mich.)
