NIACC's Adbiaziz Wako (front) and Gavin Connell run at Friday's Trent Smith Invitational.

October 12, 2018

NIACC's Wako wins Trent Smith Invitational

MASON CITY - For the second time this season, NIACC's Abdiaziz Wako claimed an individual title at a cross country meet.

Wako, a sophomore, claimed the second annual Trent Smith Invitational in a personal best time of 26 minutes, 41 seconds on the 8-kilometer course on the NIACC campus on Friday. Wako won the Grand View Invitational in 27:41 on Sept. 14.

NIACC placed second with 56 points. Hawkeye CC was the team champion with 28 points and Southwestern CC was third with 77 points.

NIACC's Gavin Connell placed fourth in a personal-best time of 26:59. Other counting scores for the Trojans were Sam Pedelty (9th in personal-best time of 27:35), Daniel Hennigar (21st in 28:12) and Zane Miller (24th in personal-best time of 28:17).

Also for the Trojans, Isaac Branstad was 25th in personal-best time of 28:26, Grant Dieken was 34th in 28:58 and Tyler Crawford was 48th in 30:03.

NIACC returns to action Oct. 26 at the NJCAA Region XI meet in Davenport.

Team standings - Hawkeye CC 28, NIACC 56, Southwestern 77, Grand View 110, Indian Hills 135, Buena Vista 147, Waldorf 182.

Top 10 Trent Smith Invitational men's times (8K)

Brian Jacques (NIACC) 25:17 (2017)

Brian Kitur (Unattached) 25:47 (2017)

Wal Khat (NIACC alumni) 25:47 (2017)

Blake Keller (NIACC) 26:05 (2017)

Dennis Kibowen (Iowa Western) 26:28 (2017)

Drake Henrichs (Unattached) 26:40 (2017)

Abdiaziz Wako (NIACC) 26:41 (2018)

Nic Ganzeveld (Waldorf) 26:45 (2017)