FORT DODGE, Iowa - The Region XI Cross Country Championships took place on Sunday at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course. The men ran first as the cannon blasted at 11:00 a.m. With temperatures at just under 40 degrees, three Iowa Central runners, Karim Achengli, Ezekiel Kipchirchir and Jhordan Ccope and NIACC's Brian Jacques separated themselves from the rest.
Those four would finish in the top five, which also included Innocent Murwanashyaka of Iowa Central. Achengli, who did not participate in the 2017 Region XI Time Trials back in August, finished first with an 8K time of 24:48.3. Kipchirchir followed 13 seconds later in second (25:01.5) and NIACC's Jacques took thrid at 25:38.6.
Iowa Central dominated the field and finished with a team score of 19 points, followed by NIACC who finished with 74. Hawkeye performed well, tying with Southwestern at 92 points a piece in third and Iowa Western finished five points behind in 5th.
Following the men's race, the women took off at noon as rain began to spit down on the field. Adva Cohen established an early lead and did not look back. Cohen set a Region XI Championship record with a time of 17:21.8 and finished an one minute and 13 seconds before her teammate Marion Bartilol (18:34.9). Abeba Sullivan and Agnes Mansaray crossed the line .3 seconds apart in third and fourth place at the 18:50 mark.
Three more Tritons would cross before Joanna Topham of Hawkeye finished eighth (19:18.9).
Iowa Central swept the team score with 15 points, followed by Iowa Western, led by Asshanni Robb (19:58), who took second with 11th, 13th, 15th, 18th and 22nd place finishes for a total of 65 points. Hawkeye was third at 91.
As for Cohen, her regional record was the second fastest in course history behind the 2016 winner Leanne Pompeani who ran a 17:21.6 back in 2015.
Following the race, Cohen and Achengli took home 2017 ICCAC Men & Women Athlete of the Year award for cross country while Triton head coach Dee Brown hoisted both the ICCAC Men & Women Coach of the Year awards, as voted by the coaches.
Fort Dodge and Lakeside Municipal Golf Course will be the home of the 2017 NJCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Team Scores - MEN:
| 1 | Iowa Central | 19 |
| 2 | NIACC | 74 |
| 3 | Hawkeye | 92 |
| 4 | Southwestern | 92 |
| 5 | Iowa Western | 97 |
| 6 | Indian Hills | 146 |
| 7 | Scott | 273 |
| 8 | Iowa Lakes | 345 |
Individual Scores - MEN: (Top 15)
| 1 | Karim Achengli | Iowa Central | 24:48.3 |
| 2 | Ezekiel Kipchirchir | Iowa Central | 25:01.5 |
| 3 | Brian Jacques | NIACC | 25:38.6 |
| 4 | Jhordan Ccope | Iowa Central | 25:39.7 |
| 5 | Innocent Murwanashyaka | Iowa Central | 26:17.2 |
| 6 | Brian Kitur | Iowa Western | 26:22.7 |
| 7 | Marke Whalen | Iowa Central | 26:43.3 |
| 8 | Zack Emery | Iowa Central | 27:01.5 |
| 9 | Blake Keller | NIACC | 27:08.5 |
| 10 | Dennis Kibowen | Iowa Western | 27:15.4 |
| 11 | Abdinasir Abdi | Iowa Central | 27:25.0 |
| 12 | Abdul Mohamed | Iowa Central | 27:29.6 |
| 13 | Romeo Blackburn | Iowa Central | 27:33.6 |
| 14 | Malcolm Myers | Hawkeye | 27:35.4 |
| 15 | Jalen Two Leggins | Southwestern | 27:38.2 |
Team Scores - WOMEN:
| 1 | Iowa Central | 15 |
| 2 | Iowa Western | 65 |
| 3 | Hawkeye | 91 |
| 4 | NIACC | 109 |
| 5 | Indian Hills | 116 |
| 6 | Southwestern | 159 |
| 7 | DMACC | 192 |
| 8 | Iowa Lakes | 245 |
Individual Scores - WOMEN: (Top 15)
| 1 | Adva Cohen | Iowa Central | 17:21.8 |
| 2 | Marion Bartilol | Iowa Central | 18:34.9 |
| 3 | Abeba Sullivan | Iowa Central | 18:50.0 |
| 4 | Agnes Mansaray | Iowa Central | 18:50.3 |
| 5 | Marta Lukijaniu | Iowa Central | 18:57.5 |
| 6 | Aaliyah Regg Wajid | Iowa Central | 18:58.9 |
| 7 | Katy Pfile | Iowa Central | 19:04.5 |
| 8 | Joanna Topham | Hawkeye | 19:18.9 |
| 9 | Sierra Stucky | Iowa Central | 19:35.3 |
| 10 | Naomi Alvarez | Iowa Central | 19:50.9 |
| 11 | Asshanni Robb | Iowa Western | 19:58.0 |
| 12 | Abby Gawrhorp | Iowa Central | 20:11.5 |
| 13 | Taylor Valentine | Iowa Western | 20:19.9 |
| 14 | Julia Dunlavey | NIACC | 20:21.0 |
| 15 | Olivia Russo | Iowa Western | 20:36.5 |