Four ICCAC Athletes Win NJCAA Titles at Indoor Championships

The 2023 Indoor Track & Field National Championships were held last weekend in Topeka, Kan. From the ICCAC, the event was highlighted by four individuals who took home national championships in five events. 

From the reigning National Championship Iowa Western Reiver women's team -- Miracle Ailes took home the crown in both the High Jump and the Long Jump. 

Ailes was the 2022 High Jump champion and defended her title with a 1.74 meter jump. -- Below her mark of 1.80 meters at last year's championships, but still good enough for first place. Despite that, earlier in the year, Ailes set the NJCAA record for the High Jump with a 1.84 meter explosion. 

Doubling up on her championships, Ailes took home the Long Jump title. She set a facility record with a 6.42 meter jump. An event she didn't compete in in 2022, she achieved victory in 2023.

Other notable performances on the women's side were Indian Hills Haleigh Hadley -- who placed second in the High Jump behind Ailes. She reached a mark of 1.71 meters. 

Multiple others earned third place finishes at the event. Chloe Garcia Grafing of Iowa Central took third in the 1000 Meters and Mile. Her teammate Adeyah Brewster was the bronze finisher in the 60 Meter Hurdles.

Mercy Biwott of Iowa Western did the same in the 5000 Meters -- as did the Reiver 4x800 Meter Relay team, and Antonia Sealy in the Pentathlon.

The highest team finish on the women's side from the ICCAC was Iowa Western who finished with 61 points. Iowa Central took fourth and Indian Hills seventh.

In the men's competitions, three different athletes won national championships. 

In an all-around performance, Iowa Centrals Aries Scott took the crown of Pentathlon. The two-time reigning Region 11 Decathlon champion also won the Region 11 Pentathlon at this year's regional. 

Scott took first place in the Long Jump and the High Jump as well as third place finishes in the 60 Meter Hurdles and 1000 Meters. Overall he scored 5175 points to beat out Nelvin Appiah-Konadu of South Plains by 89 points. 

Indian Hills Rivaldo Marshall won the 800 Meters. Marshall retained his title in the event, clocking in a time of 1:50.98. 

Rounding out the champions was Mohammed Kowa of Iowa Western who ran a 4:08.47 Mile. Kowa scored 21 points on the day for the Reivers, as he powered a third place finish in the 3000 Meters, a fourth place result in the 1000 Meters and a fifth place end as a part of the Distance Medley Relay team. 

Looking down the lists -- Roman Kuleshov of Iowa Central had runner up performances in the Long Jump and Triple Jump, earning NJCAA All-American status, awarded to the top two performers in each event. 

Waukeem Walters, Kuelshov's teammate, finished third in the same events. Iowa Central also saw Yared Kidane take third in the 600 Meters. 

Other Warriors to finish top three were Tyrice Taylor who was two spots back of Marshall in the same 800 Meter race. Their 4x800 Meter Relay team placed third as well. 

Paul Rowden of Iowa Western took third in the High Jump.  

Not the results that ICCAC teams are accustomed to, Iowa Western was the highest on the board in fifth place, with Iowa Central right behind them in sixth.