COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - Iowa Western Community College will host the Region XI Outdoor Track & Field Championships this Friday and Saturday at the Reiver Athletic Complex. Last season, Iowa Western fended off Iowa Central on the women's side. The men's side was in the inverse, with Iowa Central edging Iowa Western.
On the men's side, Vincent Gordon (Iowa Western), the 2018 ICCAC Indoor Track & Field Men's Athlete of the Year, Bryant Brown (Iowa Central) and Phemelo Matlhabe (Iowa Central) will jockey for the Men's 100-meter dash. Gordon looks to hold down the 200-meter dash but Iowa Central's Malik Beverly, as well as Matlhabe, should be right in the mix.
NIACC's Brian Jacques will likely take home the 10,000-meter crown.
Southwestern's Ronald Henderson (2.05m) was the Indoor Meet's high jump champion and looks to hold his title at the Outdoor Meet.
Iowa Western's David Ejumeta (7.28m) won the long jump over teammate Dexton Crutchfield (7.18m) back in February. The two will battle again against Iowa Central's Akeem Bradshaw.
Nathan Winters of Indian Hills is the favorite in the shot put but Iowa Central's Ryder Emberton will also compete for the title.
As for the women, Adva Cohen has become a familiar name in the Track & Field community. She looks to dominate the Regional meet after her record-setting performance at the Drake Relays. Cohen topped the event mark in the 3000-meter steeplechase by 23 seconds over second place. She finished with a 9:52.37 time, which topped the previous record of 9:57.03.
Cohen will also compete for the 800-meter, 1500-meter and 5000-meter crowns.
Triton Nelda Huggins is the favorite in both the 100-meters and 200-meters.
Hawkeye's Megan Hudson has the edge in the 100-meter hurdles. Indian Hill's Tyarra English-Paulson and NIACC's Jaylynn Scrivner look to battle for the 400-meter hurdle title.
Also for Indian Hills, Shalandra Schilling has the advantage this year in the high jump, with nearly a six-inch advantage over Southwestern's Kirsten Schirm.
Events begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday and at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.
(Projections from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association website for individual region rankings as of 4.23.18)
NJCAA Rankings (as of 5/2/18):
Men:
4. Iowa Central
14. Iowa Western
24. Indian Hills
Not Ranked: Hawkeye, NIACC, Southwestern
Women:
4. Iowa Central
16. Iowa Western
Not Ranked: Hawkeye, Indian Hills, NIACC, Southwestern