Wallace State Cross Country Earns Top-3 National Rankings

Wallace State's cross-country programs continue to make noise on the national stage. In the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NJCAA Division II polls, both the men's and women's teams are ranked No. 3 in the country.

The Lions' men's team made one of the biggest jumps in the poll, climbing four spots from their preseason No. 7 ranking. The women's team, meanwhile, slipped one spot from their preseason No. 2 ranking but remains firmly in the top three, underscoring the program's consistency and depth.

Head coach Tony Crider credited the athletes' work ethic and early-season training for the recognition, noting that the rankings reflect Wallace State's place among the elite junior-college programs in the nation.

Both teams return to action this weekend when they travel to Pulaski, Tenn., for the Tennessee-Southern Firehawk Invitational. The meet provides another opportunity for the Lions to test themselves against strong competition and solidify their national standing as the season progresses.