The Puma Women's Cross Country team is tied for first and the Men are second in the USTFCCCA 2025 NJCAA DII Cross Country National Coaches' week one poll after their first meet at Cal State San Marcos Cougar Challenge on September 13. 

 

The women are tied with in-state rival Mesa Community College for the top spot in the poll, which is not a surpirse, given the Region I powers have alternated being number one in the national rankings in each poll since the beginning of the 2024 season. 

 

The Pumas returned to the top spot for the first time since week three of last year (their sixth time total), earning the most first-place votes with nine. The Pumas rose two spots from the preseason poll after opening the season as the top NJCAA team at the Cal State San Marcos Cougar Challenge. Sophomore Laynee Hollech led the team with an 8th place finish. 

 

The Puma men rose four spots to second place and gained a pair of first-place votes. The Pumas impressed as the top NJCAA program at the Cal State San Marcos Cougar Challenge, led by current M-F National Athlete of the Week Brady Eagar, who led all NJCAA racers. 

 

Next up, the Pumas travel to Fayetteville, AR to compete at the University of Arkansas Chili Pepper Festival on Saturday, October 4. 

 

You can read more about the USTFCCCA poll here.