WARRENSBURG, Mo. - The Iowa Central track and field team chases a 16th consecutive sweep of the Region XI Indoor Championships here Saturday.
It has been an interesting season for the Tritons, as their schedule has been overhauled and revamped due to the coronavirus. Part of that will see the Region XI event take place in Missouri at the University of Central Missouri.
Last year, the Iowa Central men won regionals with 261 points, going on to claim the team title at the NJCAA meet. The women scored 293 points at regionals before finishing second at nationals.
As a team, the Tritons broke four Region XI meet records a season ago and had 27 regional champions with 69 all-region performances. Kelvin Bungei and Hannah Connell return after setting records as Bungei broke the 1000 mark and Connell the 60 hurdles.
Events set to be run include the 60, 60 hurdles, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, mile, 3000, 5000, high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, shot put, weight throw, 4x400, 4x800 and distance medley. The heptathlon and pentathlon will also be conducted.
Iowa Central is ranked first on the men's side with Region XI teams Indian Hills (fifth), Iowa Western (sixth) and Hawkeye (ninth) in the Top-10. The Triton women climbed to No. 2 with Iowa Western (fourth) and Hawkeye (eighth) in the Top-10.
Ten events for the Triton men are ranked first or second in the country including No. 1 spots for the 1000, mile, 3000, triple jump and shot put. Long jump, high jump, 800, 200 and weight throw are second with five other events ranked between second and eighth.
For the Triton women, six events are ranked in the Top-8 in the nation including top times in the 800, 1000 and mile.
Kelvin Bungei owns the fastest 3000 time by over 25 seconds this season and Rosalie Fish owns four top times in the region.
Field events begin at 9:15 a.m. with track events starting at noon.
The NJCAA Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships take place March 5-6 in Pittsburg, Kansas from the Robert W. Plaster Center.
-By Dana Becker
