The Iowa Central track and field program took part in two different events in two different states Friday and Saturday.

Members of the Triton distance program went to St. Louis for the WashU Distance Carnival on Friday, while the rest of the team headed to South Dakota for the USD Early Bird. 

Between the two meets, Iowa Central earned eight new national qualifiers, including four in the 10km. 

Aspel Kiprob, Ayenew Devany, Zinash Valen and Josie Stackis all earned bids to the upcoming NJCAA Championships in the 10km, while Taylor McCreedy punched a ticket in the 5km. 

Adeyah Brewster (100 hurdles), James MacKey Jr. (shot put) and Nyadhol Thichiot (triple jump) earned their national bids, as well. 

"We got a lot of work done and some of our athletes had the breakthroughs they have been training for," said Nick Ekel, Iowa Central head coach. "Overall, it was a great weekend for Triton track and field."

Four Iowa Central athletes secured Top-10 marks on the program's all-time list. Robin Aguilar Gonzalez in the Steeplechase and Kiprob rank seventh, while Thichiot is ninth and Brewster 10th.

"The distance carnival in St. Louis was a great opportunity for our group and they took every advantage of it," said Dee Brown, Director of Track and Field. "We had five new national qualifiers  while Robin improved upon his existing mark in the Steeplechase."

Aguilar Gonzalez was third in the 3,000 Steeplechase at the distance carnival, placing behind runners from Arkansas State and Washington University. Kiprob was 15th in the 10,000 and Devany 26th, while McCreedy finished 39th in the 5,000.

At the USD meet, the men had eight Top-10 finishes with the women recording four. 

Chot Chotyiel was fourth in the triple jump and Yared Kidane placed fourth in the 400. MacKey was sixth in the discus and 10th in the shot put, with Tafari Bishop placing eighth in the 400. 

Roman Kuleshov finished ninth in the 100, Rayvon Wright was ninth in the triple jump and the 4x100 relay earned third. 

Britney Brown placed second in the 400, Thichiot was third in the triple jump, Elizabeth Gibson fifth in the triple jump and Brewster seventh in the 400 hurdles. 

Next action for the Tritons will be Thursday and Friday at the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

-By Dana Becker