Flagstaff, Ariz. – Battling freezing temperatures, relentless wind, and a snow-covered, muddy course, the Coconino Community College men’s cross country team delivered one of its best performances in program history at the NJCAA Division II National Championships in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The Comets rose to the occasion, placing 14th out of 45 teams and surpassing their No. 21 national ranking by seven spots.

Sophomore Theodore Round Face led the charge, powering through the harsh conditions to finish 17th overall for 8k in 27:28.5 and earned NJCAA All-American honors. Close behind, sophomore Zach Biah placed 64th in 28:25.3, while freshman Edgar Avila-Mendoza capped his breakout rookie season with a 96th-place finish in 29:04.1. Sophomore Kenneth Nez and freshman Harrison Kessenich rounded out the team’s scoring five in 29:17.9 and 31:35.3, respectively. Freshmen Andrew Hartzell and Sabino Chatter also fought through the snow and mud to finish strong, helping the Comets secure their top-15 national result.

The team’s performance on November 8th marked the second-highest national finish in CCC men’s cross country history, trailing only the Comets’ 10th-place showing in 2023. Round Face’s All-American honor also represents just the second All-American award ever earned by a Comet, underscoring another milestone in the rapid rise of the CCC program.