FAYETTEVILLE, AR - Running in the faster "Habanero" Division at the annual Chile Pepper Festival, the Iowa Central women finished ninth of 27 teams and were the top junior college team. The women averaged a time of 18:07 for the 5-kilometer race. Yididiya Bifa was the top finisher for the Tritons in 17:09.1, running in 22^nd place overall. Bifa's time ranks her fourth all-time at Iowa Central. Marie Garrett and Abbi Hutchinson were the next two across the line in 18:07.5 and 18:14.0, placing 74^th and 80^th respectively. Hutchinson's time ranks her 22^nd all-time in school history.  Maud Lambotte finished in 95^th place with a time of 18:28.5, which also ranks her 27^th in school history. Finishing fifth for Iowa Central was Imane Jourji in 113^th place with a time of 18:38.5.  Also running for the Tritons were Natalie Bogdanova Kirilova in 195^th place and Dari Cook in 244^th place.

"We had to sit two of our varsity women due to sickness and injury, but the rest of the team still performed well and ran one of the best team races of the year so far," said Coach Dee Brown.

Despite some injuries to their number two and three runners, the men from Iowa Central finished in 20^th place of 25 teams in the fast section. The Tritons were led once again by Mohamed Dahmouch who placed 30^th of 273 runners.  Dahmouch averaged 4:59 per mile to finish in 24:48.4 over 8-kilometers and moved up to 20^th all time at Iowa Central. Yasser Soualah, the typical number four runners for the Tritons was next in at 26:19 and 136^th place. Evan Paplow finished in 171^st place with a time of 27:05.6. Sophomore Chase Deiter was next at 27:20.7.    Hamza Mohamed, running with an injury, and the typical number three runner crossed the line next at 27:24.8.  Ala Elmbarki and Ben Reyes finished in 210^th and 214^th places respectively to round at the top seven for Iowa Central.

"In the team standings, we may not have looked too impressive; however, the majority of our men ran personal best times today and we are making great progress," said Coach Brown.

The Tritons will go back to training the for the next two weeks and see action again in West Salem, WI on Saturday, October 19^th at the Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational hosted by the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse.