Wallace State Cross Country Teams Achieve Second-Place National Rankings in USTFCCCA Polls

Hanceville, AL — Both Wallace State’s Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams have earned top five national rankings in the Week 1 NJCAA Division II National Coaches’ Poll released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), with both teams securing second place spots. The men’s team set a program-best after moving up six places from the preseason poll and earning one first-place vote. The women’s team matched its highest-ever ranking, jumping five spots and collecting two first-place votes. 

Wallace State’s Men’s Cross Country team has started the season strong, securing a runner-up finish at the Montevallo Falcon Invitational. Leading the way was sophomore Luke Kennedy of Huntsville, who finished third overall in the Men’s 8K race and was the top Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) runner. Kennedy’s time of 25:55.24 currently ranks him number two on the NJCAA Division II Cross Country Performance List. 

The women’s team has also shown a strong start to the season, rising to secure a number two spot in the first week poll. Sophomore Grace Gosline of Arab and freshman Reagan Parris of Bremen have led the charge, with both delivering top performances in their races. Parris is currently ranked seventh on the NJCAA Division II Performance List for her time of 19:31.07 in the Women’s 5K at the Montevallo Falcon Classic, while Gosline is ranked 18th for her 20:02.63 finish at the JSU Foothills Invitational. 

Both Kennedy and Gosline were named Runners of the Week this month by the ACCC for their standout performances. Kennedy earned the Men’s Runner of the Week title for his third-place finish at the Montevallo Falcon Classic, where he was the top ACCC finisher and helped lead Wallace State to a second-place overall finish. Gosline was named Women’s Runner of the Week for her strong showing at the JSU Foothills Invitational, where she placed 37th overall. 

Both teams will next compete at the UT Southern Firehawk Invitational, held at Oakville Indian Mounds Park in Moulton on Sept. 21. The Women’s 5K race will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the Men’s 8K at 9:45 a.m. 

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About Wallace State 

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.