Men Cross-Country Regional Competition: The Indian Hills men’s cross-country team displayed an impressive performance at the 2023 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Region XI championship, held at Crestmoor Golf Club. With a program-record five All-Region performances, the Warriors secured a notable third place overall.
In a closely contested competition within the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC), Indian Hills accumulated 43 points, marking a historic low in school history. The top-ranked Iowa Western claimed victory with 37 points, while No. 2 Iowa Central Community College secured the second spot with 40 points.
Freshman standout Brandon Ford achieved a remarkable feat, securing the NJCAA Region XI runner-up position. Crossing the finish line in second place with a time of 24:55.36, Ford, also the school record holder for the eight-kilometer run, finished just nine seconds behind the top performer.
Sophomore Keveroy Venson added to the Warriors’ success, finishing fifth with a time of 25:38.81. Mohammed Al-Yafaee, in only his second collegiate cross country appearance, secured the ninth position with a time of 26:30.54.
Completing the team scoring, Warrior sophomore Brody Lucas and freshman Nik Davis claimed the 14th and 15th positions, respectively, with times of 27:14.55 and 27:15.27. Warrior sophomore Logan Soedt secured 24th place with a time of 27:31.97, followed by Keelan Aita in 34th place with a time of 28:33.33 and Jacchaeus Taylor in 38th place with a time of 28:55.19.
Brandon Ford and Keveroy Venson earned NJCAA All-Region XI and ICCAC All-Conference first-team honors, marking a significant achievement for Indian Hills. Mohammed Al-Yafaee received NJCAA All-Region XI and ICCAC All-Conference second-team honors. Brody Lucas was named to the ICCAC All-Conference second-team and the NJCAA All-Region XI honorable mention team.
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Nik Davis earned recognition on both the NJCAA All-Region XI and ICCAC All-Conference honorable mention squads. Head coach Brent Ewing’s outstanding leadership that propelled the Warriors to their best-ever performance at the region championship earned him the title of NJCAA Region XI Division I men’s cross-country Coach of the Year.
The Warriors are now gearing up for the upcoming NJCAA National Championship scheduled at John Hunt Park on Nov. 11 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our Reader’s Queries
How do you qualify for NCAA regionals cross country?
Regional championships are where teams battle it out to qualify for the big leagues. The top two teams from each championship move on automatically, while thirteen more teams are selected based on their performance.
Where are the NCAA XC championships 2023?
The 2023 NCAA Cross-Country Championships showcased exciting races on a sunny Saturday morning at Panorama Farms near Charlottesville, Virginia. The weather was perfect, with temperatures in the low 60s, making for an ideal meet.
How many NCAA cross country regionals are there?
On Friday, Nov. 11, all nine of the 2023 DI cross country regional championships took place. Teams vied for regional titles and a guaranteed spot in the DI national championships.
Who won the men’s cross country championships?
Graham Blanks, a standout from Harvard Cross Country, secured victory in the men’s race at the 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship. The event took place on Nov. 18 at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Virginia. Blanks crossed the finish line with an impressive time of 28 minutes and 37.7 seconds, edging out freshman Habtom Samuel of New Mexico by a mere three seconds.