BROOKINGS, S.D. - The Iowa Central track and field team took part in a pair of meets here Friday and Saturday, securing 10 national-qualifying marks.
The Tritons also had three more Top-10 program performances on the men's side during the trip.
Earning spots at nationals were Chloe Garcia Grafing (800, mile) and Taylor McCreedy (mile, 5km) from the women's team.
Adeyah Brewster was the 60 hurdles winner, clocking a time of 8.78 at the Jim Emmerich Alumni Invitational.
On the men's side, Robin Aguilar Gonzalez (800), Yared Kidane (800), Hunter Klimek (mile, 5km), Aspel Kiprob (5km) and Jerome Jessup (200) all secured future spots at the NJCAA Indoor National Track and Field Championships.
Roman Kuleshov moved up to fourth on the program triple jump list, Kiprob is now ninth in the 5km and Aguilar Gonzalez 10th in the 800.
Kuleshov won the triple jump with a leap of 14.96m. Jessup placed second in the 200 in 21.74 and the 4x400 relay of Jessup, Tafari Bishop, Hayden Cobbs and Kidane finished third in 3:21.49 at the Emmerich.
"Our team showed a lot of growth in the week since they opened their season at Iowa," said Nick Ekel, Iowa Central head track and field coach. "The results will show a lot of personal records and seasonal bests came from (Saturday's) meet but what is most heartening is how the team is starting to bond and find its identity. Those relationships will come to sustain our team as we move towards championship season."
The Tritons are set to compete Saturday in Minneapolis at the Jack Johnson Invitational.
Complete results for the Emmerich Invitational can be found here.
-By Dana Becker