BLUE DRAGON MEN MOVE TO NO. 2 IN USTFCCCA RANKINGS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College men's cross country team matched its highest national ranking in program history on Wednesday coming in at No. 2 in the latest United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NJCAA Division I rankings.

With two team victories on their resume this season, the Blue Dragons jumped two spots from No. 4 in the first regular-season poll two weeks ago.

The last time the Blue Dragon men were ranked No. 2 in the national rankings was on September 23, 2020. The Dragons have been ranked in 16 consecutive polls, which is second to their record 18-straight polls from 2018 to 2020.

Hutchinson has team wins in the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic on August 30 and the Missouri Southern Stampede on September 20.

Sophomore Cornelius Kogo won the Masterson and sophomore Titus Kiprotich won the MSSU Stampede. The Dragons had five Top 10 finishers at the Masterson and three Top 10 placers at the Stampede.

The Blue Dragons next compete at the Fort Hays State Tiger Open on October 11 in Hays.

The Blue Dragons continue to be the highest ranked of seven-ranked Jayhawk Conference teams. Butler is tied for sixth this week. Garden City and Colby are Nos. 12 and 13, respectively. Dodge City is No. 21, Cloud County is No. 23 and Neosho County is No. 25.

Iowa Western remained No. 1 this week. Iowa Central is No. 3, New Mexico Junior College is No. 4 and Central Arizona is No. 5.

The next national rankings will be released on October 15.

USTFCCCA/NJCAA DIVISION I MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RANKINGS
                                                     Points          Last Poll
1. Iowa Western                               250                  1
2. Hutchinson                                 237                  4
3. Iowa Central                                228                  2
4. New Mexico JC                             223                  3
5. Central Arizona                            201                 11
6. Crowder                                      194                  4
6. Butler                                         194                  7
8. Snow                                         178                   6
9. Ranger                                       167                  16
10. Southern Nevada                       160                  15
11. College of Southern Idaho          148                   8
12. Garden City                              141                  10
13. Colby                                       132                  16
14. Odessa                                    113                   13
15. El Paso                                    105                   14
16. Pima                                         94                   22
17. Western Texas                           93                   18
17. Blinn                                         93                   11
19. Amarillo                                    76                   20
20. South Plains                              68                   23
21. Dodge City                                50                    21
22. Hill                                           39                    19
23. Cloud County                            35                    NR
24. Vincennes                                 23                    23
25. Neosho County                         16                     NR