2024 Fall Championships | Cross Country Preview

October 21, 2024

OTTUMWA, IA -- The Region 11 Cross Country Championships will be held at Ottumwa, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Cedar Creek Golf Course. Indian Hills will be the host the event with the women's race starting at 4:00 p.m. and the men's race to follow at 4:45 p.m.

On the women's side of Division l -- Iowa Central is the team to watch, they are ranked third in the NJCAA Division l Coaches Poll on USTFCCCA. The Tritons are an inexperienced team when it comes to regional championships participation with only one returner of last year's top 15 finishers (Morgan Bodholt, Iowa Central). However, the team has a lot of talent with Abbi Hutchinson who set a personal record of 18:41.0. in the 5k at the Chile Pepper Festival -- along with Yididiya Bifa, Marie Garret and Maud Lambotte.

Iowa Western and Indian Hills both have runners to watch as well. Barbara Neiva of Iowa Western and Tiffani Koonce both have had strong seasons so far and will be names to keep and eye on atop the leaderboard.

In Division ll -- DMACC has one of the top runners in Kayden Spencer. She finished third with her team placing second in the Region 11 Championship a season ago. DMACC will have three returning runners who were top 5 finishers from the 2023 race (Spencer, Grace Collins, and Tori Yunggerbauer). DMACC is currently ranked fourth in thre NJCAA Division ll Coaches Poll and are the favorites to win the region this year.

Another team to keep an eye on in Division ll is Southeastern. Southeastern won the Region 11 Champion last season and have two top runners returning (Arianna Pedrin and Ella Schroeder) returning for this year's championship. This is another young team, a runner to keep an eye on is Paetyn Wiegand, she set a personal best of 20:02.2 in the 5k at the Indian Hills Invite

Looking at the men's race, in Division l, Geofrey Ronoh is the clear favorite for Iowa Western. He has won every race he has run in this season (four) and has an 8K best of 23:25.0., a 4:43 mile pace. Also from Iowa Western will be Mohammed Kowa, last year's Region 11 meet champion and Barnabas Ndiwa. Both should see their names high up on the board, and have Iowa Western primed to make a push for the Region 11 Championship.

Other runners to keep an eye on are Mohamed Dahmouch with Iowa Central and Brandon Ford with Indian Hills. Brandon Ford placed second in the Region 11 Championship last season and Mohamed Dahmouch ran a 24:08.0, 8k at the Indian Hills Invitational setting a new personal record on Oct. 14.

For Division ll teams -- DMACC will have two returning top 15 finishers in the Region 11 Championship last season, Jordan King and Will Thompson. DMACC is placed fifth in the NJCAA Division ll Coaches Poll. Rounding out the group -- keep an eye on Southeastern and their lead runner Blayze Havel.

2024 Region 11 Championship

Friday, October 25 - Cedar Creek - Ottumwa, Iowa
Hosted by Indian Hills Community College

Event Times:
Women - 4:00 PM
Men - 4:45 PM

Location:
Cedar Creek Golf Course
13120 Angle Rd, Ottumwa, IA 52501
Map Link

Live Results: https://results.aatiming.com/meets/41492

Region Champions/Records:

Past Men's Champions
Region 11 Records - Men

Past Women's Champions
Region 11 Records - Women

Men's Course: