For the second consecutive year, the Indian Hills Women’s Cross Country squad secured second overall at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 11 Championship.
Freshman Aniqah Bailey of Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago, running for Advance Learning TT, paced the Warriors in Ottumwa. She crossed the line eighth overall with a time of 18:25.8, marking the second-fastest performance in program history. That time sits just 13 seconds shy of a school record established in 2007.
The remaining four scorers for Indian Hills all posted personal-best marks. The team finished with 58 total points, edging out third-place Iowa Central Community College by a three-point margin.
Freshman Sophie Robertson-Dover from Pocklington, England, representing York, finished 11th overall at 19:00.01. Freshman Tierney Carter of Oskaloosa took 15th place with a personal record of 19:17.2.
Sophomore Serene Thompson of Albia and freshman Florence Nafamba of Mandeville, Jamaica, running for Holmwood Technical, rounded out the scoring in 16th and 17th places respectively. Thompson, a returning runner from last year’s runner-up squad, ran a personal-best 19:21.6. Nafamba posted a season-best 19:57.6. Prior to last season, Indian Hills had never finished higher than third at the Region 11 meet.
Postseason awards followed the team’s performance:
- Aniqah Bailey: 2nd Team All-Region, 2nd Team All-Conference
- Sophie Robertson-Dover: Honorable Mention All-Region, 2nd Team All-Conference
- Tierney Carter: Honorable Mention All-Conference
- Serene Thompson: Honorable Mention All-Conference
- Florence Nafamba: Honorable Mention All-Conference
The Warriors advance next to the NJCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Championship, scheduled for November 14 in Huntsville, Alabama.
