The KJCCC men and ICCAC women captured the team titles in this past weekend’s inaugural KJCCC versus ICCAC Challenge collegiate track and field held at the Track/Soccer Complex on the campus of Barton Community College. In the women’s team challenge, the ICCAC ran away with the team title outscoring the KJCCC 114 to 57 while the KJCCC won the men’s title by defeating the ICCAC 97 to 74.
“I think overall the challenge meet was a huge success,” said Barton Head Track and Field Coach David Schenek. “This is something that we hope to continue back and forth from Iowa to Kansas for years to come. There was a lot of talent on showcase from both sides today and I hope that the ICCAC schools enjoyed as much as the KJCCC schools did!”
The meet featured colleges from the two of the best junior college conferences in the nation, the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) and the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC). The challenge meet matched the two conferences against each other with each college scoring points for their respective college’s conference. Representing the KJCCC was host Barton Community College joined by Cloud County Community College and Cowley College. Representing the ICCAC was NJCAA Indoor champion Iowa Central Community College who was joined by Iowa Western Community College.
KJCCC conference highlights
The Barton women led the KJCCC team with 25 of the teams 57 points while Cowley and Cloud scored 17 and 15 respectively. Highlighting the Barton women’s performances were the field event first place finishes of Janee Mickens in the shot put and Marcela Solano in the hammer throw. Also earning two top performances were Cowley’s Niki Andrews in the pole vault and Kira Vega in the javelin throw. Earning Cloud’s lone first place was Marie Mvoto in the discus throws as the KJCCC teams took all top place finishes in the throwing events.
On the men’s side, Barton’s nine first place finishes led the KJCCC to the men’s title. Leading the charge for the Cougars was Tyler Rathke who won both the discus and hammer throws. Also taking home first place was Wes Tuck (shot put), Akeem Haynes (200m), Demetrius Lindo (110m hurdles), KJ Lightbourne (400m hurdles), Kevin Nichols (long jump), Tony Green (triple jump), and the 4X100m relay team of Nichols, Lindo, Haynes, and Aliaksandr Linnik. Winning three events for Cowley was Fred Taylor (100m), Charles Ross (800m), and Rick Valcin (pole vault). Capturing Cloud’s lone first place was Issac Miller (javelin) as like the women, the men swept all the throwing events.
ICCAC conference highlights
NJCAA National Indoor champion Iowa Central led the ICCAC team as the Tritons captured twelve events on the day while Iowa Western won two events. Winning first place for the Tritons were: Reyare Thomas (100m and 200m), Chantal Duncan (800m), Fiona McKenna (1500m), Eveline Niyokwizgigwa (5000m), Shawanna Steplight (110m hurdles), Sharon Kwarula ( 400m hurdles), Jodi Miller (3000m steeplechase), Ceterna Simmons (high jump), Vonnie Ford (long jump), the 4X100m relay team (Ford, Thomas, Dominique Kimple, and Steplight), and the 4X400m relay team (Duncan, Kwarula, McKenna, and Cecilia Kumalalamene). Capturing first place for Iowa Western was Shayla Luckett (400m) and Jordan Bright (triple jump).
Iowa Central, who along with their women’s team won the NJCAA National Indoor championship, led the ICCAC team with four first place finishes while Iowa Western won two events. Leading the Tritons was: Dan-Neil Telsford (400m), Calvin Kibby (1500m), Jamal Boma (5000m) and James White (high jump). Capturing first place for the Reivers of Iowa Western were Nick Teetzel (3000m steeplechase) and the 4X400m relay team of Denzel Washington, Terrance Johnson, Anthony Powell, and Jordan Landburg.
The KJCCC versus ICCAC Challenge event was brought to Barton by Head Track and Field Coach David Schenek. Basing the concept from other type of competitions, Schenek approached the respective schools and received the commitment for the annual event.
“I am really excited about the opportunity we had to bring outstanding competition to the city of Great Bend and show off our new facility here at the college,” said Schenek. “Being a scored competition, it brings something new to the atmosphere. This is the type of meet that used to happen more regularly in track and field. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen much anymore outside of the NCAA Division I and our region and National championships. Iowa Central and Iowa Western are two great programs and all teams produced some amazing competition this past weekend.”
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