March 9, 2020

Women Finish 6th, Men Finish 14th at NJCAA Indoor Nationals

LYNCHBURG, VA- It was a great weekend at the NJCAA Indoor National Championships hosted by Liberty University.

The Women's team had an outstanding performance led by Faith Chepengat's two national championships. Coming into the weekend ranked 7^th in the nation the women would move up one spot in the final standings. Faith Chepengat led the Reivers with national championship performances in both the 3000m and 5000m races. Sierra Coward came into the weekend ranked 7^th in the indoor Pentathlon but was able to grind out an amazing performance and finished 2^nd with a score of 3154. Christine Irving had an amazing performance in the 400m dash coming into the weekend ranked 8^th in the nation. Irving put together a gritty performance in Saturdays final to run a school-record time of 55.48.

The Men's team put together a great team performance finishing 14^th as a team despite coming into the weekend ranked 19^th. The men would finish the weekend with 4 All-Americans led by a 4^th place finish from Freshman long jumper Tyrell Johnson. Shawn Kiptoo would finish 5^th in the 3000m run, Shamar Deacon finished 6^th in the 600m run with a time of 1:20.50, and Johnie Jean-Jacques finished 7^th in the Shot Put with a throw of 15.96. The men came into the meet ranked 19^th in the nation.

MEET HIGHLIGHTS

Women

Faith Chepengat won the 3000m run (8:53.03) and the 5000m run (16:59.14)
Christine Irving finished 2^nd in the 400m dash (55.48)
Sierra Coward finished 2^nd in the Pentathlon (3148)
Women's 4x400m relay (George, Clarke, Newman, Irving) finished 6^th (3:51.44)
Amya Clarke finished 16^th in the 60m (7.62) and 13^th in the 200m (24.59)
Makeda Newman finished 12^th in the 600m (1:40.88)
Emmy Jepkemei finished 16^th in the 1000m (3:11.50)
Shania Parkinson finished 13^th in the WT (13.68) and 15^th in the SP (11.64)
Aliyah George finished 16^th in the 400m (58.85)

Men

Tyrell Johnson finished 4^th in the Long Jump (7.28m)
Shawn Kiptoo finished 5^th in the 5000m (14:54.50)
Shamar Deacon finished 6^th in the 600m (1:20.50)
Johnie Jean-Jacques finished 7^th in the Shot Put (15.96m) and 14^th in the Weight Throw (13.67m)
Maurice Thompson finished 15^th in the 60m (6.80)
Aarron Westmoreland finished 30^th in the 60m (6.99)
LeeAaron Berks finished 13^th in the 600m (1:21.89)
Ethan Brenneman finished 18^th in the 800m (1:59.12)
Gavin Klein finished 24^th in the 1000m (2:46.23)
Men's 4x400m relay (McNary, Hanson, O'Brien, Deacon) finished 12^th (3:18.55)