NIACC men claim first Trent Smith Invite title

MASON CITY - The NIACC men's cross country team claimed the team title at the first Trent Smith Invitational on Friday on the NIACC campus.

The No. 12 (NJCAA Division I) Trojans placed first with 36 points. Southwestern was second with 53 points and Iowa Western was third with 72 points.

NIACC freshman Brian Jacques was the men's individual champion in a personal-best time of 25 minutes, 17 seconds on the 8-kilometer course. Former NIACC standout Wal Khat, who ran on the NIACC alumni team, was third in 25:47.

It was the third race this season that Jacques has won. He won the Division II race at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 23 and also won the St. Ambrose Fighting Bee Invitational on Oct. 7.

Jacques time on Friday ranks third on the NIACC men's all-time 8K list behind Khat (24:49 in 2016) and Imad Amenzou (25:12 in 2015).

Other counting scores for the Trojans on Friday were Blake Keller (fourth in a personal-best 26:05), David Carter (9th in a personal-best 27:19), John Kraft (12th in 27:31) and Daniel Hennigar (17th in personal-best 27:47).

Keller's 26:05 ranks 13th on NIACC's all-time 8K list and Carter's 27:19 is 31st on school's all-time best list.

Also for NIACC on Friday, Samuel Dean was 19th in 28:07, Tyler Crawford was 21st in 28:29, Canyon Kuhlmann was 22nd in 28:38, Grant Dieken was 23rd in 28:45, Hunter Filloon was 31st in 29:21, Tyson Stromer was 33rd in 29:28, Akahnni Delgado was 36th in 29:39 and Derek Carpenter was 63rd in 37:39.

Khat led the NIACC alumni with his third-place finish. Also for the NIACC alumni, Jacob Day was 18th (28:00), OJ Ojullu was 55th (32:37), Aaron Hardcastle was 56th (33:19), Brian Haeflinger was 62nd (36:32) and Josh Olinger was 66th (43:43).

The NIACC women placed second at Friday's meet with 57 points. Iowa Western was the women's team champion with 57 points.

Hawkeye CC's Joanna Topham was the women's individual champion in a time of 19:20 on the 5K course.

NIACC was led by freshman Julia Dunlavey, who was sixth in a personal-best 20:19, which ranks 13th on the school's all-time 5K list.

Other counting scores for the Lady Trojans were Amy Fullerton (14th in 21:12), Keisha Gonzague (19th in 21:52), Rebekah Larson (20th in personal-best 22:01) and Allison Steahr (23rd in personal-best 22:28).

Also for the Lady Trojans, Ally Trager was 25th in 22:41, Tiffany Meyer was 33rd in 23:48 and Anna Frisch was 41st in 24:42.

The NIACC men and women return to action Oct. 29 at the NJCAA Region XI meet in Fort Dodge. The national meet is set for Nov. 11 also in Fort Dodge.