Multiple ICCAC cross country teams earned a place in the NJCAA Top 25 polls in Week 1. Both men's and women's teams have representation in this week's poll, with Iowa Central notching two top 5 spots.
Iowa Central has had a strong start to their cross country season in 2018, garnering national recognition in both programs. The women's program earned a No. 1 ranking in this week's poll, and the men's program came in at No. 2 in the NJCAA Division I poll.
The Iowa Central women have been led by Abeba Sullivan, who placed 7th at the Hawkeye Invite in Iowa City on Sept. 1, and won the Luther College All-American Invite on Sept. 8. Sullivan was named the NJCAA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week on Sept. 10, becoming only the fourth woman in Iowa Central program history to earn the honor. The women's team finished thrid overall as a team at the Hawkeye Invite, competing as the only two-year college at the meet and won the Luther College All-American invite as a team.
Iowa Central's Men's program is led by Awet Yohannes, who took first in the Luther College All-American Invite, and Innocent Murwanashyaka, who placed 8th at the Hawkeye Invite. The Men's team placed first at the Luther College Invite and third at the Hawkeye Invite, also competing as the only two-year school.
Also earning national recognition in the rankings were Hawkeye Community College and NIACC in both the men's and women's polls. Indian Hills and Southwestern also made top 25 appearances in the men's poll this week.
The Hawkeye women are led by Joannna Topham, who finished fourth at the Les Duke Invitational in Grinnell on Sept. 8, helping the women to sixth-place finish, and tops among two-year colleges competing.
Hawkeye's men's team is being led by David Thompson, who took 12th overall for the Men's group at the Les Duke Invitational and helped pace Hawkeye to a fourth-place finish. The Red Tails finished first among two-year colleges that attended.
NIACC's Women's program has been bolstered by Emma Davidson, who finished with a top-10 all-time finish in NIACC history at the Augustana University Twilight Meet on Aug. 31. Davidson took second in the Grand View Viking Invitational on Sept. 14, helping the Lady Trojans to a second place team finish overall.
NIACC's Men's program has been paced by Abdiaziz Wako, who finished 50th at the Augustana University Twilight meet, and won the Grand View Viking Invitational. NIACC finished 12th as a team in the Augustana University Twilight and claimed the Grand View Viking Invitational title.
Week 1 Cross Country Rankings
USTFCCCA / NJCAA Division I National Women's Cross Country Poll
1. Iowa Central
2. El Paso
3. Cowley
4. Central Arizona
5. South Plains
13. Hawkeye
14. NIACC
Week 1 Cross Country Rankings
USTFCCCA / NJCAA Division 1 National Men's Cross Country Poll
Complete Rankings
1. Central Arizona
2. Iowa Central Community College
3. Cloud County
4. El Paso
5. Hutchinson
12. Hawkeye
T-17. NIACC
20. Indian Hills
25. Southwestern