Tritons Look to Regain Region 11 Titles in 2025
The Triton women will look to build upon the success of the cross country team during the 2025 track and field season. During the fall, the women won the ICCAC conference and Region 11 titles. They finished the cross country season as the NJCAA National Runner Up. In 2024, Iowa Central finished second at both the indoor and outdoor regional meets, the goal for 2025 is to take back the top spot.
"We have a lot more women on our team this year," said Head Track and Field Coach Anne Cleary. "Our depth, paired with our high level of talented women will make our team much more competitive at the regional level and hopefully at the national meet as well."
The distance squad will be led by couple of freshmen who earned All-American honors this fall. Yididiya Bifa was the ICACC conference and Region 11 champion during the cross country season. She finished third at the national meet to earn her first NJCAA All-American honor. She was also voted the USTFCCCA Midwest Female Athlete of the Year. Abbi Hutchinson finished 24th at the national cross country championships, then three days later took 16th at the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships earning her two Coaches Association All-American awards in just four days.
"Our women's cross country team dominated at the regional cross country meet this fall, we expect to see that same dominance from that group on the track this winter and spring," said Cleary.
"After how well our women's cross country team worked hard together and had a great season, I'm excited to see how our track season goes as we carry on that same teamwork and energy that we had fall," Hutchinson said.
Sophomore Natalie Bogdanova Kirilova and freshmen Imane Jourji were two other members from the national runner-up cross country team that the Tritons will look to contribute this spring as well. Bogdanova Kirilova ran at both the Indoor and Outdoor National Championships last year; she will bring national meet experience to an otherwise young team.
In the sprints, sophomore Zariah Greaves will bring national meet experience from a year ago. She was injured during the indoor season, then during the outdoor season she ran both the 100m and 4x100m at the national meet. Greaves is the only returner in the sprints/hurdle group, but she is leading a group of exceptionally talented newcomers.
"My year – minor setback for a major come back," said Greaves. "Training has been the best it's ever been for me. Purpose, discipline, hard work and faith. I can do it; through Christ all things are possible."
"Zariah has had a great fall of training," said Cleary "I really look forward to what she'll be able to accomplish having the full fall to train healthy. She also has done a wonderful job being a leader as the lone returner is this group."
Another returner for the Tritons is thrower Zuriya Robinson. Last year Robinson placed fourth in the weight throw at the indoor regional meet. During the outdoor season, she placed third in the shot put and sixth in the discus throw at regionals.
"When you grind, you shine," said Robinson. "I'm looking forward to seeing my improvements and I feel like my training has been focused but still enjoyable."
"Our two Z's (Zariah and Zuriya) are our only returners that only competed in track and field last year," said Cleary. "They are both incredibly talented ladies that have gotten a lot better since last season. We won't only be looking for them to score a lot of points, but we will be looking for their leadership to guide our young team."
The jumps and multi groups for the Tritons will look completely different from last year as they do not return any athletes from the 2024 season. Newcomers Paola Behile of Ecuador and Maeva Goune Tibbolo of France will headline the triple jump and long jump events, respectively. Leading the women in the multi-events will be freshmen Ella Homawoo of France and Eden Brouwers of the Netherlands. "We have good group of women in these events who should be able to score some points for us at the Region Championships," said Cleary.
The men's team will look to rebound from their third place finishes at both the indoor and outdoor regional meets in 2024. The Tritons return multiple All-Americans and regional point scorers from last years team.
One of the top returners for the Tritons is two-time All-American, Musa Nkosi. Nkosi ran the 400-meter leg of the NJCAA National Championship Distance Medley Relay team that ran 9:44.89, setting a new school record, facility record, National Meet record and NJCAA All-Time National Record. Nkosi was also a part of the 4x100m relay team that finished seventh at the outdoor national championships. In addition to the two relays, Nkosi also competed at the indoor national meet in the 200m and 4x400m and then at the outdoor national meet in the 100m and 200m.
"I am excited to represent the Tritons one more time and make this team proud," said Nkosi. "It is going to be a crazy season and my teammates, and I are looking forward to showcasing our talents. Remember the comeback is always better than the setback."
Nkosi is joined by sophomore teammate Youssef Hamed. In 2024, Hamed was a national qualifier during the indoor season in the 60m and 200m, then, during the outdoor season he qualified in the open 100m and was a member of the All-American 4x100m team. The Tritons will look to multiple returners to help lead an exceptionally large and young group of sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers and multis. Sprinters Chayton Ewurs, Caston Frank and Amos Sieh, and jumper Peyton Sanders, are back for their second year at Iowa Central.
"I'm personally looking forward to competing against the best jumpers around the region, country and myself," said Sanders. "I hope we'll have multiple jumpers and other team members at the indoor national meet this March. To me, our training reminds me of one word, 'grit'. There have been highs and lows, things fall, but we have all put in time, work and effort. Now we're ready to see some results."
During the fall, the cross country team was plagued by injury. Many of the runners are heathy now and ready to start the track season. The mid and distance squads will be led by sophomore Antoine Tshimanga who was an All-American during the 2024 outdoor season as a member of the 4x800m relay.
Hamza Mohamed also returns for the Tritons. Mohamed was a national qualifier in the 5k during the outdoor season. Alex Aguliar Camarena, Chase Deiter and Ben Reyes round out the sophomores for the Tritons.
A versatile group of newcomers will highlight the mid and distance groups this spring. The 800 meter, 1000 meter and mile events will be occupied by Mohamed Dahmouch, Alexis Ortiz, Saad Rifi Loutfi, Said Rifi Loutfi, and transfer Yasser Soualah. Most of Dahmouch's personal best performances are faster than current Iowa Central school records.
"I'm here to give it my all and see how far I can go, driven by the energy and determination that surrounds me. Every step forward is fueled by hard work, shared goals, and the desire to leave my mark on the season," says Dahmouch.
The distance events will be led by newcomers Brennen Peterson, Evan Paplow, Chakib Cherkaoui Rhazouani, and Soufyane Laaziz.
"We may have a lot of youth in this group, but we certainly have some hardworking, experienced and talented runners that should carry us well during the indoor season and into the outdoor season," said Dee Brown, Director of Cross Country and Track and Field.
The throws squad will be headlined by freshman international student, Angus Alberts of Australia. Alberts says, "Our throws squad is coming with a whole different attitude. There's a different hunger around here that I've never experienced before. We've got a big season ahead of us, it's time to beat the noise and prove to everyone why we're here."
"I'm incredibly happy with our staff's recruiting efforts last year, "said Cleary. "During fall training, I have felt all our event groups are better than we were a year ago. I'm excited to get our whole team back and see what they can do this year," stated Cleary.