Ottumwa, IA – Following a record-breaking performance in the season opener, the Indian Hills Men's Cross Country team soared into the national rankings, checking in at No. 8 in the first United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll.
Indian Hills received 93 points in the first national poll of the season. The Warriors are the highest ranked team that did not appear in the final 2022 national rankings.
The Warriors broke through in their first meet of the season at the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City on September 1. Indian Hills was powered by freshmen standouts Brandon Ford (Perth, West Australia/Duncraig) and Keveroy Venson (Linstead, Jamaica/Calabar) who both shattered the previous Indian Hills 6k school record.
In a meet featuring the University of Iowa, Creighton University, Illinois State University, and Truman State University, Ford placed ninth overall after setting a new Indian Hills standard with a time of 18:25.90, 69 seconds better than the previous Warrior record.
Venson followed up behind Ford in 12th place, also eclipsing the previous Indian Hills school record with a time of 18:32.00, now the second-fastest time in school record.
In total, all six Warriors that competed at the Hawkeye Invitational posted personal best marks. Nik Davis (McCausland, IA/North Scott), Brody Lucas (Norwalk, IA/Norwalk), Logan Soedt (Eldridge, IA/North Scott), and Jacchaeus Taylor (Kansas City, KS/Raytown) all set new personal best times to contribute for the Warriors.
Colby Community College (KS), New Mexico Junior College, Trinidad State Junior College (CO), Iowa Western Community College, and Salt Lake Community College checked in 1-5 in the national rankings.
Next up for the Warriors is the Bradley Intercollegiate in Peoria, IL on September 15.
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