(New Orleans, LA.) - The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recently released their week one national polls. Waubonsee Community College's Men's Cross Country team was ranked 15th nationally among all NJCAA Division I teams. No other Illinois or Region IV area teams made the list. Central Arizona College and Iowa Central Community College are first and second respectively. The top teams in the nation will spend the season battling for eventual podium spots at the 2018 NJCAA National Championships on Saturday, November 10 in Garden City, Kansas, hosted by Garden City Community College.

Coach Trevor Howard's Chiefs have been led by Rockford East High School graduate Jordan VanBarriger and Oswego alumnus Brad Osuch. Freshman Stephen Merriweather and sophomore Tomas Dominguez have also been big contributors to Waubonsee's early success. Other team members include Batavia products Jacob Fehrenbacher and Ryan Moshinsky, and Kaneland High School graduate C.J. Girolamo. The Chiefs have performed well so far against primarily four-year NCAA Division III and NAIA competition. Waubonsee placed sixth at the University of St. Francis' Saints Twilight Invite on August 31, and the Chiefs finished eighth out of 22 teams at the Aurora University Spartan Classic on September 7.