Men’s Cross Country Climbs to No. 13 Nationally
The Colby Community College men’s cross country team climbed three spots to No. 13 in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NJCAA Division I National Coaches’ Poll released Wednesday
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Colby Community College men's cross country team climbed three spots to No. 13 in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NJCAA Division I National Coaches' Poll released Wednesday (Oct. 1).
Under the direction of first-year head coach Mathew Scott, the Trojans continue to build momentum behind a string of impressive early-season performances. After a runner-up team finish at the Muthama-Rogers Invitational (Sept. 13), Colby followed with a ninth-place showing at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo., against a loaded field featuring NCAA Division I and II programs.
Sophomore Japhet Kiprono highlighted the trip to Columbia with a breakthrough performance, clocking 25:22.0 in the men's 8K to finish 18th overall, cutting nearly 40 seconds off his season debut. He was joined in the top 50 by Enoha Reizabal-Bellanger (26:16.5), while Alexandre LeRoy (26:58.8) and Kenan Delestre (27:00.6) packed tightly to help secure a top-10 team finish.
The Trojans also showed strong depth earlier in the month at the Muthama-Rogers Invitational, where Delestre (5th, 25:56.0), Kiprono (6th, 26:09.8), and Reizabal-Bellanger (7th, 26:09.8) all placed inside the top 10 as Colby finished runner-up in the team standings.
With the move to No. 13 nationally, Colby continues its rise among the elite programs in the NJCAA. The Trojans currently rank fourth among Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) schools, joining a nationally competitive group that includes Hutchinson (No. 2), Garden City (No. 10), Butler (No. 6) and Garden City (No. 12).
The Trojans will take a week off before returning to action at the FHSU Tiger Open in Hays, Kan., which will serve as the final tune-up of the regular season. Colby will then shift its focus to the postseason, beginning with the Region VI Championships on its home course.