May 5, 2024
Men's and Women's Track & Field Claim Region Championships
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - The Reivers defended their 2023 title on home soil to sweep the indoor and outdoor championships. School records and regional records highlighted the Region 11 Championships.
Paul Rowden broke the school record in the high jump with a 2.14m effort, while Denzs Simmonds broke the regional record in the shot-put throwing 16.99m to take home the title.
Freshman sensation Geofry Ronoh ran his way to the top spot in the Men's 10,000m in 30:51.22 while Cross Country National Champion Silvia Gradizzi won the Women's 10,000m in 39:53.88.
Mo Kowa ran a great 1500m to set a school record in 3:44.50.
Alex Del Popolo heaved the javelin out to a new meet record of 61.29m to win the javelin.
Nikkolai Kennedy continued his strong freshman campaign to pick up the victory in the 110 hurdles running 14.00.
The Men's 4x100m of T Fox, Aflamah, K Fox, Oguma 41.10 picked up a national qualifier.
Max Scheef had a 3 meter improvement in the javelin of 51.21m to pick up a national qualifier.
Joel Solomon picked up an all important national qualifier in the 3000m steeplechase running 9:47.74. Teammate Victor Kemboi followed in a national qualifier as well of 9:42.00. Kemboi also teamed up with Pumpa, Gaspar, Kowa in the 4x8 running 7:50.76 to snag the win.
Sarai Simpson won the women's shot put in 13.68m Freshman Isaiah Cowley showed a promising future by winning the men's decathlon and moving to a top 16 place in the nation.
Angeline Estrada won the 800m wire to wire in a new Region 11 record of 2:13.73.
Kaylia Kelly won the 200m in 23.35 to catapult her way to the #1 spot in the nation.
Lauren Pierson was a double event winner in the 5000m running 19:27.20 and 3000m steeplechase 12:20.98
Natalie Albert was victorious in the Women's hammer throw in 47.42m while Mercy Honesty continued her sensational freshman season winning the Women's triple jump in 12.60m.
Jayla Brown provided some solid points for the Reivers picking up the national qualifying mark in the Women's long jump with a 5.66m effort, good for 2nd place. She also finished 2nd in the triple jump with a 12.15m jump.
The squads will send a small contingent to the Concordia Last Chance meet to see if it can add a few more national qualifiers before gearing up for the NJCAA National Outdoor Championships in Monroe, Louisiana May 16-18.
Below is a list of the All-Region Athletes:
1st Team
Natalie Albert 47.42m hammer
Yekini Bowen 56.72m discus
Isaiah Cowley 5448 decathlon
Alex Del Popolo 61.29m javelin
Angeline Estrada 2:13.73 800m * Regional Record
Silvia Gradizzi 39:53.88 10k
Mercy Honesty 12.60m triple jump
Barbara Nieva 4:53.21 1500m
Barnabas Ndiwa 15:09.98 5000m
Kaylia Kelly 23.35 200m
Nikkolai Kennedy 14.00 110 hurdles
-Mo Kowa 3:44.50 1500m school record *
Marenono Opiew 54.30 400h
Lauren Pierson 19:27.20 5000m
Lauren Pierson 12:20.98 3000m steeplechase
Pumpa, Kemboi, Gaspar, Kowa 4x8 7:50.76
Alex Del Popolo 61.69 javelin * Regional Record
Geofry Ronoh 30:51.22 10k
Paul Rowden 2.14m high jump
Denzs Simmonds 16.99m Shot Put *Regional Record
Sarai Simpson 13.68m shot put
2nd Team
Veronica Andrusyshyn 3590 Heptathlon
Natalie Albert 35.56m javelin
Natalie Albert 37.32m discus
Wallace Aflamah 20.77 200m
Ethel Amissah 55.54 400m
Yekini Bowen 15.45m discus
Jayla Brown 5.66m long jump
Jayla Brown 12.15m triple jump
Angeline Estrada 4:53.50 1500m
Baylee Horner 2.45m pole vault
Nikkolai Kennedy 54.60 400h
Chloe Larsen 39.52 hammer throw
Donald Lamp 51.29m Hammer throw
Koumedzina, Kelly, Cole, Amissah 4x1
Barnibas Ndiwa 32:05:16 10k
Ayianna Olivas 41:44.93 10k
OT Omot 1.99m high jump
Abagotte Opiew 14.80m triple jump
Flynn Pumpa 9:39.29 3000m steeplechase
ChinLoy Raymond 13.08m shot put
Geofry Ronoh 3:51.64 1500m
Max Scheef 51.21m javelin
T Fox, Aflamah, K Fox, Oguma 41.10 4x1
3rd Team
Kamdyn Stanley 1.49m high jump
Denzs Simmonds 48.96m discus
Madison Steckler 3109 Heptathlon
3rd place
Tanique Taylor 1:05.89 400h
Victor Kemboi 9:42.00 3000m Steeplechase
Marcus Edan 3.15m pole vault
Judith Koumedzina 11.91 100m
Kamdyn Swartz 14.64 110hurdles