Article by Josh Sandin of Iowa Central Community College

GREAT BEND, Kan. - The Iowa Central men’s and women’s track and field programs were again impressive this weekend as they took part in the KJCCC/ ICCAC Challenge hosted by Barton CC in Great Bend, Kan. Iowa Central teamed up with Iowa Western to represent the ICCAC against Barton, Cowley and Cloud from the KJCCC. The ICCAC women the KJCCC men were victorious.

Iowa Central set three school records and had 10 athletes meet qualifying marks for the NJCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Iowa Central also had 15 event champions on the weekend.

Reyare Thomas dominated the weekend as she set school records in the 100-meters (11.32) and 200-meters (23.48) and cruised to wins in each. She also qualified for nationals in the 100-meters. Jodi Miller was first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase as she qualified in 11:59.95. Sarah Rautio was fourth in the high jump in 5-03.00 and Dominique Kimpel was second in the 100-meters in 11:43 as both qualified.

In addition to Thomas and Miller, Iowa Central had seven other individual champions. Chantal Duncan won the 800-meters (2:22.02), Fiona McKenna won the 1,500-meters (5:07.34), Eveline Niyokwizigigwa won the 5,000-meters (19:47.99), Shawna Steplight won the 100-meter hurdles (14.48), Sharon Kwarula won the 400-meter hurdles (1:02.26), Cetrena Simmons won the high jump (5-07.00) and Vonnie Ford won the long jump (17-02.00).

The women also won a pair of relays. The 4x100-meter relay team of Ford, Thomas, Kimpel and Steplight won in 47.49. The 4x400-meter team of Duncan, Kwarula, McKenna and Cecilia Kumalalamene won in 3:59.29.

On the men’s side, Iowa Central posted six national qualifiers, four event champions and one school record. Dan-Neil Telesford qualified and set a school record in the 200-meters as he was sixth in 20.95. Telesford also won the 400-meters in 48.18. Alfred Higgs qualified in both the 100-meters (4^th, 10.57) and 200-meters (7^th, 20.97). Carvin Nkanta also qualified in the 200-meters, he was eighth in 21.02.

Jamal Boma qualified in the 5,000-meters as he won the event in 15:01.95. Aviance King rounded out the qualifiers with a 7-07.50 jump in the high jump.

Calvin Kibby won the 1,500-meters in 4:13.68 and James White won the high jump with a 7-03.00 jump.

Iowa Central is back in action again this weekend when it travels back to Kansas for the K.T. Woodman Classic hosted by Wichita State University on Friday, April 13, and Saturday, April 14.