LEVELLAND, Tex. - It was another strong day on the track and in the field for Iowa Central here Wednesday at the NJCAA Championships.

Only a handful of finals were contested, but Kelvin Bungei picked up one of the titles, winning the 3,000-meter Steeplechase in 9:12.98. Bungei finished almost 10 seconds ahead of the runner-up in the event.

On the women's side, both Lilia Alvarez and Ashley Micheaux earned third place finishes. Alvarez scored bronze in the Steeplechase, finishing in 11:48.48, with Micheaux adding a third in the shot put to her runner-up in the hammer with a throw of 13.73m.

Nicola Paletti picked up a third place medal in the decathlon with teammate Aries Scott finishing sixth to give the Tritons nine team points. In the high jump, David Bosquez Grimaldo tied for third, clearing 2.08m. 

Kiya Wulf finished off her run in the heptathlon by scoring 3,317 points to place fourth. 

Hannah Connell shined bright in prelim events, qualifying for the 100-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash finals. Both of those races will take place Thursday.

In the 100 hurdles, Connell set a new personal-record and locked in the second-fastest time in program history at 13.45, which also was the quickest here in prelims. That time also places her 10th in NJCAA history in the event.

Connell, a future University of South Florida athlete, locked in the fifth-best 200 time at 23.62 and will be joined by teammate Odell Frye in the finals. Frye went 20.93, the ninth-best time at Iowa Central.

Bungei also qualified for the 1,500-meter final earlier in the day with the fastest prelim time at 3:56.00. Rosalie Fish advanced to the women's 1,500-meter final, as well.

Jaheem Hayles, who is headed to Syracuse University to run, clocked the quickest time in the 110-meter hurdles at 13.76. Jerome Jessup posted the best 200 time in prelims to advance.  

In the team standings, the Iowa Central men are second with 39 points while the Triton women are third with 40. 

-By Dana Becker