FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Coconino Community College men’s Cross Country team has been ranked 11th nationally in the latest NJCAA Division II USTFCCCA Coaches Poll, marking one of the program’s strongest starts to a season in recent memory.

The Comets moved up three spots from last year’s national championship finish and hope to continue an upward trend as the team heads deeper into its fall schedule.

A Stacked Region 1

Coconino’s ranking comes inside one of the toughest regions in the country. Mesa Community College (Ariz.) sits at No. 1 nationally with 11 first-place votes, while Southern Nevada debuts in the poll at No. 7. Pima Community College (Ariz.) also entered the rankings this week at No. 15. with four Region 1 programs inside the top 15.

What’s Next

The ranking arrives as the Comets prepare for a stretch that includes the Embry-Riddle Arizona Invitational, the Southern Showcase and Firestorm Classic double-header weekend, and the Highlander Invitational in Riverside, California — before the road to the NJCAA Region 1 Championships in Tucson and, ultimately, NJCAA Nationals in Huntsville, Alabama.

With Region 1 shaping up as one of the deepest in the country, every meet between now and October 30 will carry added weight for the Comets as they look to climb the national rankings and secure their place in the national championship field.