Gainesville, Fla. - The ICCAC took to the track at the 2024 Indoor Track & Field Championships in early March and came away with two team National Championships.
On the men's side, the Indian Hills Warriors rallied to their first-ever Indoor Track & Field National Championship. The Warriors, in just their 9th season of existence, scored 91.5 team points and beat out New Mexico JC by 7.5 points for the crown.
Although no Warriors took home individual championships in any event, collectively they were able to get it done.
Notably, Traunard Folson took second in the 60 Meter Dash and was fourth in the 200 Meter. Five other Warriors events earned NJCAA All-American status, given to the top two in each event.
Tate Joens, ICCAC Field Athlete of the Year, took second in the Weight Throw. Chris Johnson and Terrick Johnson each were runner up in the 400 Meter and 600 Meter, respectively. Tyice Taylor powered a second place finish in the 800 Meter, as did the Warriors Distance Medley Relay Team.
Outside of Indian Hills, individually, two were crowned as National Champions from ICCAC schools.
Mohammed Kowa of Iowa Western had a memorable day, winning both the 800 Meter and the 1000 Meter. That gives him his third Indoor National Championship after winning the Mile in 2023.
Impressively, Iowa Central's Distance Medley Relay team broke the NJCAA record to win the title in 2024. Jed Elmbarki, Bongumusa Nkosi, Jadon Boots and Housem Hrabi ran a 9:44.89 to break the school, facility, meet and national mark.
The Iowa Western Women split the National Championship with Barton (Kan.) giving them their third title in the last four seasons.
The Reivers needed a first place finish in the final event of the meet, and they got it. The 4x400 Meter Relay team took first while Barton took 12th, giving the Reivers 10 points and securing the tie.
Joining the 4x400 team as individual champions for the Reivers were ICCAC Field Athlete of the Year Mercy Honesty who won the Triple Jump, and Ethel Amissah, who won the 400 Meter.
The other NJCAA Champion came from Iowa Central -- as Tina Samson won the Pentathlon.
Only two others received NJCAA All-American status at the meet -- IWCC's Calleisha Chance got second in the Long Jump and the Reivers' Distance Medley Relay team were runners up as well.
ICCAC Top 5 Finishers listed below.
Men:
2024 NJCAA Men's All-Americans
60 Meter Run
2. Traunard Folson, Indian Hills – 6.70
60 Meter Hurdles
5. Cyrus Ways, Indian Hills - 7.99
200 Meter Run
4. Traunard Folson, Indian Hills – 21.11
400 Meter Run
2. Chris Johnson, Indian Hills 47.07
3. Jah'Vauni Wheeler, Indian Hills 47.16
600 Meter Run
2. Terrick Johnson, Indian Hills – 1:17.34
3. Michael Francois, Iowa Western – 1:17.56
800 Meter Run
CHAMP. Mohammed Kowa, Iowa Western – 1:50.23
2. Tyrice Taylor, Indian Hills, 1:50.62
1000 Meter Run
CHAMP. Mohammed Kowa, Iowa Western – 2:26.12
3. Cole Reinders, Indian Hills, 2:27.23
3000 Meter Run
2. Geoffry Ronoh, Iowa Western – 8:06.70
5000 Meter Run
5. Geoffry Ronoh, Iowa Western – 14:05.65
Distance Medley
CHAMP. Iowa Central – 9.44.89 (NJCAA Record)
2. Indian Hills – 9:45.52
4. Iowa Western – 9:48.83
4x800 Meter Relay
3. Iowa Central – 7:33.09
4. Iowa Western – 7:38.15
5. Indian Hills – 7:38.26
Triple Jump
4. Cory Vaughan Jr. Iowa Western – 15.13m
Weight Throw
2. Tate Joens, Indian Hills – 18.61m
Shot Put
3. Yekini Bown, Iowa Western - 17.07m
4. Denzs Simmonds, Iowa Western – 16.77m
5. Tate Joens, Indian Hills – 16.74m
Heptathlon
3. Triston Miller, Indian Hills - 4986
5. Cooper Spurgeon, Iowa Central - 4792
Women:
2024 NJCAA Women's All-Americans
60 Meter Dash
4. Judith Koumedzina, Iowa Western – 7.59
60 Meter Hurdles
4. Tanique Taylor, Iowa Western – 8.72
400 Meter Run
CHAMP. Ethel Amissah, Iowa Western – 54:26
5. Kaylia Kelly, Iowa Western – 56.00
600 Meter Run
3. Angeline Estrada, Iowa Western – 1:32.08
1000 Meter Run
5. Angeline Estrada, Iowa Western – 2:59.93
3000 Meter Run
4. Barbara Neiva, Iowa Western – 10:07.02
5000 Meter Run
4. Barbara Neiva, Iowa Western – 17:37.98
4x400 Meter Relay
CHAMP. Iowa Western, 3:41.93
4x800 Meter Relay
5. Iowa Western – 9:26.49
Distance Medley
2. Iowa Western 11:47.46
Long Jump
2. Calleisha Chance, Iowa Western – 6.11
High Jump
5. Calleisha Chance, Iowa Western – 1.67m
Triple Jump
CHAMP. Mercy Honesty, Iowa Western – 12.47m
Shot Put
3. Chin-Loy Raymond, Iowa Western – 14.30m
Weight Throw
5. Natalie Albert, Iowa Wetern – 16.09m
Pentathlon
CHAMP. Tina Samson – 3647