Sakat Leads Iowa Western To Women's Team Title
LUBBOCK, Texas - It was the Iowa Western Women's Indoor Track & Field team that headlined the NJCAA National Championship meet for the ICCAC, winning their second-straight national title. It was also the Reivers fourth title in the past five seasons after they won their first in 2021.
The Reivers were led by freshman middle and long distance runner Juliana Sakat. Sakat raced to four individual titles in the 1,000, Mile, 3,000 and 5,000. Four tied the most national championships and ICCAC Track & Field Athlete has one in one championship meet -- joining Tahir Chakisso of Iowa Central Men's Track & Field from 2014 who completed the same feat in the same races.
On the women's side, Only Iowa Central's Adva Cohen had won four national championships in the same national meet, albeit two of those came in relay events back in 2018. Since 2008, three individuals won three individual championships -- Faith Chepengat of Iowa Western in 2021, Hilda Chebet of Iowa Western in 2020 and AG Bradford of Iowa Central in 2020.
Sakat ran her personal best times this season in the 1000 (2:55.34), Mile (4:45.82) and 3000 (9:28.99).
Joining Sakat as an NJCAA National Champion was Mercy Honesty who won the Triple Jump for the second year in a row. It was her career best mark as she continues to increase her distance week-in and week-out. Her top jump went for 13. 11 meters. She will look to sweep the event as the national champion in the Outdoor season after winning the event last season as well.
There were 12 All-American performances for the women this season, ten of those by Iowa Western athletes.
The Reivers won with a total of 114 points, beating out runner up Barton by nine points.
On the Men's side, the highest finish from a team was from the Iowa Western Reiver as well, who finished in third place. Indian Hills took fourth place while Iowa Central ended in sixth.
Only one men's champion was crowned this season, the 4x800 Meter Relay team from Iowa Central. The Triton group of Taha Ouchene, Saad Rifi Loutfi, Soufyane Laaziz, Said Rifi Loutfi powered to a time of 7:31.75.
Individually, some of the top performers at the Men's meet were Indian Hills'sprinters Nichalas Power and Raynier Galvez.
Power was an All-American in three events, individually in the 600 Meters taking second place, and twice in relay events taking third in the DMR and the 4x400 Meters, respectively.
Galvez was on the 4x400 team as well and also got third in the 600 Meters.
NJCAA All-Americans from the ICCAC listed below. Must place in the top 3 to earn All-American status.
Men:
2025 NJCAA Men's All-Americans
Distance Medley Relay
2nd. Iowa Central (Said Rifi Loutfi, Bongumusa Nkosi, Saad Rifi Loutfi, Mohamed Dahmouch) - 9:52.08
3rd. Indian Hills (Nichalas Power, Justin Gray, Raynier Galvez, Cayde de Waal) - 9:52.23
4x400 Meter Relay
3rd. Indian Hills (Justin Gray, Nichalas Power, Supreme Muhammad, Raynier Galvez) - 3:09.53
4x800 Meter Relay
Champion. Iowa Central (Taha Ouchene, Saad Rifi Loutfi, Soufyane Laaziz, Said Rifi Loutfi) - 7:33.05
600 Meters
2nd. Charmar Smith - Iowa Western - 1:16.63
3rd. Raynier Galvez - Indian Hills - 1:17.08
800 Meters
2nd. Nichalas Power - Indian Hills - 1:50.66
1000 Meters
2nd. Pierre Carlier - Iowa Western - 2:28.31
3rd. Flynn Pumpa - Iowa Western - 2:28.79
Triple Jump
2nd. Lebon Attoungbre - Iowa Western - 15.90
Shot Put
3rd. Kaden Banks - Indian Hills - 17.49m
Weight Throw
2nd. Tate Joens - Indian Hills - 19.36m
3rd. Michael Etuma - Indian Hills - 18.12m
Heptathlon
2nd. Triston Miller - Indian Hills - 5045
3rd. Alan Lefevre - Iowa Central - 4992
Women:
2025 NJCAA Women's All-Americans
Distance Medley Relay
2nd. Iowa Western (Hafssa Boutrich, Serena Grace, Wijdane Inzaline, Juliana Sakat) - 11:49.9
4x800 Meter Relay
3rd. Iowa Western (Elizabeth Ewusie, Alyssa Kulesa, Hafssa Boutrich, Wijdane Inzaline) - 9:25.18
60 Meter Hurdles
2nd. Dymonde Nave - Indian Hills - 8.49
60 Meters
3rd. Zariah Greaves - Iowa Central - 7.39
600 Meters
3rd. Angeline Estrada - Iowa Western - 1:33.58
1000 Meters
Champion. Juliana Sakat - Iowa Western - 2:55.84
Mile
Champion. Juliana Sakat - Iowa Western - 4:49.18
3000 Meters
Champion. Juliana Sakat - Iowa Western - 9:35.93
5000 Meters
Champion. Juliana Sakat - Iowa Western - 16:56.55
Long Jump
2nd. Sakina Umar - Iowa Western - 6.08m
Triple Jump
Champion. Mercy Honesty - Iowa Western - 13.11m
Shot Put
2nd. Sarai Simpson - Iowa Western - 15.01m