2023 Region 11 Championship Preview | Cross Country

October 26, 2023

CRESTON, Iowa -- The Region 11 Cross Country Championships will be held at Creston, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 27 at the Crestmore Golf Course. Southwestern will host -- men will run at 4:00 PM with women to follow at 4:45 PM.

On the women's side -- for Division I there's a lot of young runners this year. There's only one returning member of last year's top 15 finishers (Lauren Pierson, Iowa Western). The fastest time this year in Region is Joan Jepngetich (Iowa Central) but the Iowa Central team is full of freshmen, and only one sophomore.

This year is really going to come down to how the freshmen handle the Championships, of the three teams in Division I (up to 25 runners listed on the rosters) there are 18 freshmen that are running in their first Region 11 Championships.

This will be a fun race to watch and follow all the way to the finish.

On the Women's side of Division II -- Southeastern has the top runner in Aish Ramone -- who has the fastest time and the most top 10 finishes this season. She won the Region 11 Championships last season and her Blackhawks, as a team, will have four top 10 finishers from a season ago (Ramone, Carissa Mackey, Brooklyn Moehle, and Cassidy Yaley) return for this year's Championships.

Another team to look at for Division II is DMACC. They finished second last year and return three of the top 15 runners from last year (Mkenzie Robinson, Madison Beaune, Mercedes Meaune) and they have added freshmen, Grace Collins who has three top 10 finishes this year.

On the men's side -- for Division I Brandon Ford, Indian Hills will be a runner to watch as he holds the fastest time for this year in Region 11 at 23:40.9. Other contenders may be Mohammed Kowa of Iowa Western and Housem Hrabi of Iowa Central.

For Division II teams -- Chase Oates of Southwestern finished 15th last year andis on his home course. As a team keep and eye on Southeastern and their lead runner Brooks Julian.

Teams Competing:

Division I: Indian Hills, Iowa Central, Iowa Western

Division II: DMACC, Hawkeye, NIACC, Southeastern, Southwestern