No. 1 NIACC men set to compete at regionals
FORT DODGE - The top-ranked (NJCAA Division II) NIACC men's cross country team will compete at the NJCAA Region XI Cross Country Championships on Sunday.
The championships will be held at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge and hosted by Iowa Central. The women's 5-kilometer race is slated for noon with the men's 8K race to follow at 12:30 p.m.
The year 2020 marks the first season of NJCAA Division II cross country after all ICCAC teams competed at the NJCAA Division I level, previously. The two divisions will all run at the same time at the 2020 Region XI Championships, with scores separating out and awarded accordingly.
Four teams will compete for the inaugural NJCAA Division II men's crown with NIACC and Hawkeye CC slated as the front runners. The NIACC men are the No. 1 ranked team in NJCAA Division II and Hawkeye CC close behind at No. 4.
The NIACC men last competed at the Indian Hills Invitational on Oct. 16 where they placed third with 76 points. Iowa Western and Iowa Central, both NJCAA Division I schools, placed first and second, respectively, and Hawkeye CC placed sixth.
At the Indian Hills meet, freshman Melvin Kipkemboi led the Trojans with a fourth-place finish in a time of 25 minutes, 17 seconds, which ranks fourth in NIACC's career 8-kilometer list. Sophomore Jorge Ruiz was fifth in 25:20, which ranks fifth on the school's career 8K list.
Other counting scores for the Trojans were Vicente Correia (11th in 26:09), Janvier Irakoze (21st in 26:45) and Richard Marcoux (34th in 27:31).
On the women's side at regionals, Hawkeye CC is ranked third and NIACC is ranked 11th.
DMACC and Southeastern complete the Division II field.
Iowa Central comes into the men's and women's races as the favorite for Division I. On the men's side, the Tritons have won the last seven regional titles, with the women winning every regional championship dating back to 2004.
Indian Hills, Iowa Western, Scott and Southwestern round out the Division I field.
The Iowa Western men's squad is currently ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA, while Indian Hills is also in the top 10 team at No. 7.
Iowa Western is ranked fourth in the country on the women's side, and has the returning national champion, Faith Linga, while Indian Hills is ranked No. 15.
Sunday's Schedule
11:45 a.m. - National Anthem & Flag Ceremony
11:50 a.m. - First call for women's combined Division I & II Race
(must report to box and be checked in with Clerk of Course)
Noon - Women's 5K Race
12:20 p.m. - First call for Men's combined Division I & II Race
(must report to box and be checked in with Clerk of Course)
12:30 p.m. - Men's 8K Race
Approximately 1:15 p.m. - Awards behind clubhouse
