COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – The Indian Hills Women's Track & Field squad collected the highest finish in program history at a regional meet as the Warriors came in third at last weekend's Region XI Championships. IHCC took home two titles and set seven school records in the process.
Not surprisingly, freshman standout Kahliyah Anderson had a hand in much of the Warrior success at Reiver Track over the weekend as the Texas native etched her name on four of the new IHCC standards and anchored the 4x400 relay with Aimaya Drummond, Destiny Lottie, and Temira Goods to a first-place finish (3:52.29). Anderson broke her school records in both the 200 and 400 meter events and also helped the Warriors to an all-time IHCC mark in the 4x100, alongside of Janyla Hoskins, Kylar Brown and Dasauna Combs.
"Kahliyah has done a lot for our program in just her first season here," said IHCC Head Coach Brent Ewing. "Getting a third-place team finish at Regionals means we are showing a lot of depth, but we still have holes we need to fill."
One of those holes is not in the 400-meter event; however, as the Warriors took home fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth place in the quarter mile. In addition to Anderson's school record clocking of 57.74, Goods was just behind in fifth with a time of 57.88, good enough for second-fastest in school history. Drummond (58.88), Lottie (59.49), and Melanie Hall (62.19) rounded out the impressive results for IHCC in the 400.
"Temira Goods also had a heck of a weekend. Her goal was to break 58 all year and she did just that," Ewing added. "Temira had a very strong 57.0 split in our 4x4 as well. Destiny Lottie was another sprinter that really impressed me. Destiny has ran her fastest times of her life these last two meets. She is an incredibly dedicated athlete. I've had so much fun watching her progress. I am really going to miss her leadership next year."
The other first-place finish over the weekend for the Warriors came out of the field events as Lauren Upmeyer continued her remarkable ascension in the javelin competition. With only about a month's worth of practice and competition under her belt, all Upmeyer did was go out and win the Region XI title with a toss of 33.68 meters.
"Lauren continued her tear in the javelin, taking home the crown," Ewing said. "She scored significant points for us in three different throws events. She is a super-coachable young woman who isn't afraid to work. She's by far the best female thrower to come through our program."
Upmeyer finished fourth in the shot put and sixth in the discus and her 11.89 meter throw in the shot set the school record.
In addition, IHCC scored points points in the field events as Kylar Brown took third in the long jump with a leap of 5.69 meters, which reset the Indian Hills standard and qualified Brown for the national meet. Malama Toure wasn't far behind as she hit the sand at 5.51 meters and placed fifth
"Our field events really stepped up. Coach Dixon has done a phenomenal job preparing them to compete at their best when it matters most," Ewing said of Assistant Coach Emmanuel Dixon. "Kylar Brown had the meet of her life, shattering the long jump school record and qualifying for nationals. Malama Toure was close behind. Going into this meet, Malaya's best was 5.00m in the long jump. She finished regionals with a new personal best of 5.51 meters, barely missing the national qualifying mark. That type of progress is extremely rare. I'm very proud of her. It couldn't have happened to a better person."
The 100 hurdles saw IHCC net a third and a fifth place finish as Peyton Steva continued her solid freshman campaign with a 15.25 clocking which earned her bronze, while Matayah Naylor was fifth in 15.94.
"Peyton is such a competitor," Ewing said. "I know she was hoping for a faster time but to see her progress the way she has in the 12 weeks we've had her is amazing. She will do some very big things next year when we are able to work with her for a full year. Matayah Naylor also stepped up, running her season's best time in the 100h."
Looking ahead, the Warriors will take just a handful of competitors to the Minnesota State-Mankato Maverick Classic. At this point on the women's side, Ewing's plan is to just take hurdlers Steva and Toure. The rest of the Warrior squad has already turned their attention to the May 11-13 NJCAA National Championships in Levelland, Texas.
"Our women's team has the ability to score more points than we've ever scored at a national meet," Ewing said. "It will come down to our relays and field events."
Region XI Team Standings
Iowa Western 292
Iowa Central 172
Indian Hills 129
Hawkeye 78
NIACC 32
Southwestern 11
IHCC Top Regional Performances
Kylar Brown - 100m (12.39), 5th
Janyla Hoskins - 100m (12.49), 6th
Kahliyah Anderson - 200m (24.61), 4th, school record
Dasauna Combs - 200m (25.41), 7th
Temira Goods - 200m (25.42), 8th
Destiny Lottie - 200m (25.49), 10th
Aimaya Drummond - 200m (25.51), 11th
Janyla Hoskins - 200m (25.74), 12th
Kimiesha Star - 200m (26.40), 14th
Kahliyah Anderson - 400m (57.74), 4th, school record
Temira Goods - 400m (57.88), 5th, 2nd fastest in school history
Aimaya Drummond - 400m (58.88), 6th
Destiny Lottie - 400m (59.49), 7th
Melanie Hall - 400m (1:02.19), 8th
Shiggo Shadin - 1500m (5:25.99), 5th, school record
Shiggo Shadin - 5k (21:35.77), 3rd
Peyton Steva – 100 hurdles (15.25), 3rd
Matayah Naylor – 100 hurdles (15.94), 5th
Matayah Naylor – 400 hurdles (1:12.75), 3rd
Peyton Steva – 400 hurdles (1:13.21), 4th
Ciara Corley- high jump (1.50m), 3rd
Kylar Brown- long jump (5.69m), 3rd, school record, national qualifier
Malama Toure- long jump (5.51m), 5th
Ciara Corley – triple jump (10.97m), 3rd
Malama Toure- triple jump (10.56), 4th
Lauren Upmeyer - shot put (11.89m), 4th, school record
Lauren Upmeyer - discus (37.20m), 6th
Lauren Upmeyer - javelin (33.68m), 1st
• 4x100 relay - (Janyla Hoskins, Kylar Brown, Dasauna Combs, Kahliyah Anderson) 47.13, 3rd, school record
• 4x400 relay - (Aimaya Drummond, Destiny Lottie, Temira Goods, Kahliyah Anderson) 3:52.29, 1st, school record