Ottumwa, IA – The Indian Hills Men's Track & Field and Cross Country programs continued to make history as the trio of squads – cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field placed third overall in the final United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Junior College Program of the Year standings. The third-place finish is the best in school history.
Based on finishes at their respective national championships, the trio of Warrior teams garnered 16 Program of the Year (POY) Points. Indian Hills finished behind first-place New Mexico Junior College (8 POY points) and Iowa Western Community College (13 POY Points).
The Warriors made national headlines throughout the duration of the year on its way to the third-place finish. Led by freshman All-American Brandon Ford (Perth, Western Australia/Duncraig), the men's cross country team placed 10th overall at the 2023 NJCAA DI Men's Cross Country National Championship in November in Huntsville, AL, the program's second-best finish in school history.
The Warriors' indoor program made history in March in Gainvesville, FL, winning the first national championship across any running program in school history. The Warriors captured 17 USTFCCCA All-American honors at the event, including six national runner-up performances.
The outdoor squad saw another record-breaking effort, placing fifth overall in West Monroe, LA in May, the program's best finish in school history. Led by sophomore Tyrice Taylor (Linstead, Jamaica/Vere Technical) who captured his second career national championship and the 4x800-meter relay national championship quartet of Cole Reinders (Sarnia, Ontario/St. Patrick's Catholic), Mohammed Al-Yafaee (Doha, Qatar/Aspire Academy), Keveroy Venson (Linstead, Jamaica/Calabar), and Tray'Quan Francis (new Iberia, LA / Westgate), the Warriors secured 12 All-American performances.
As a program, the track & field squads captured 14 NJCAA Region 11 Championships while setting 23 school records along the way. The cross country team was also recognized as a USTFCCCA All-Academic team.
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