By Hutchinson CC Sports Information

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – With five runners returning from a Jayhawk Conference/Region VI championship team, the Hutchinson Community College women’s cross country team starts the 2023 season ranked No. 5 in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)/NJCAA Division I national rankings.

In addition to winning league and regional titles in 2022, the Blue Dragons had their highest NJCAA Division I Championship finish of fourth place last season.

The Blue Dragons return All-American Serenity Larson and Coaches Association All-Americans Taylor Hoskinson and Gracie Lambert from last season.

First-year head coach Jafet Molinares saw his Blue Dragons finish sixth in the season-opening Terry Masterson Twilight Classic on September 1 at Fun Valley. The Blue Dragons were short a pair of runners in that meet. Hutchinson runs its first full 5K race next Friday at the Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin, Missouri.

The Blue Dragons are the highest ranked of eight Jayhawk Conference teams in the first poll of the season.

Right behind Hutchinson is Butler at No. 6, Cloud County at No. 8 and Dodge City at No. 10, Colby is ranked No. 11, Garden City is No. 19, Barton is No. 23 and Highland is No. 24.

Salt Lake Community College is the preseason No. 1 team, followed by New Mexico Junior college, defending national team champion College of Southern Idaho, Iowa Western and Hutchinson.