Cross Country Ready for NJCAA Cross Country Championships
The Colby Community College men’s and women’s cross country teams are set to compete at the 2025 NJCAA Cross Country National Championships this week in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The event, hosted at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course, will feature the top programs from across the country in Divisions I, II, and III.
FORT DODGE, Iowa — The Colby Community College men's and women's cross country teams are set to compete at the 2025 NJCAA Cross Country National Championships this week in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The event, hosted at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course, will feature the top programs from across the country in Divisions I, II, and III.
The 2025 NJCAA Cross Country National Championships will take place at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge, Iowa, with the course opening to competitors at 8:00 a.m. on race day. Competition begins on Saturday (Nov. 8), featuring all three divisions throughout the day. The schedule kicks off with the Division III men's race at 9:30 a.m., followed by the Division III women at 10:30 a.m. Division I competition begins shortly after, with the men's 8K set for 12:00 p.m. and the women's 5K at 1:00 p.m. The Division II races will close out the day, starting with the men's race at 2:30 p.m. and the women's race at 3:30 p.m.
The championships continue the following week with the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships on Tuesday (Nov. 11), also held in Fort Dodge. The half marathon course opens at 8:30 a.m., with opening ceremonies beginning at 9:45 a.m. The women's race starts at 10:00 a.m., followed by the men's race at 10:10 a.m. The event begins at Iowa Central's Crimmins Building (1299 11th St SW) and finishes at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park (1415 Nelson Avenue).
Following a strong performance at the Region 6 Championships, the Colby men enter the national meet ranked No. 9 in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NJCAA Division I National Coaches' Poll. The Trojans continue to establish themselves among the elite programs in the nation, joining a stacked KJCCC group that includes Hutchinson (No. 2), Butler (No. 5), Garden City (No. 15), Cloud County (No. 22), and Dodge City (No. 23).
Sophomore Japhet Kiprono has led the charge all season for Colby, earning All-Region and All-KJCCC honors after finishing eighth overall at the Region 6 meet with a time of 24:54.72, another sub-25 effort in an impressive sophomore campaign.
Right behind him, Kenan Delestre also claimed All-Region recognition, placing 13th overall (25:19.58) to give Colby two top-15 finishers. The Trojans' pack running has been a key strength throughout the season, with freshmen Enoha Reizabal-Bellanger (19th, 26:15.24), Vincent Kirui (24th, 26:32.99), and Thomas Calas (28th, 26:51.55) rounding out the scoring five.
That collective effort propelled Colby to a third-place team finish at the Region 6 Championships, trailing only nationally ranked Hutchinson and Butler. With five runners inside the top 30, the Trojans enter the national stage with lots of depth.
On the women's side, the Colby women's team has gained momentum throughout the fall, climbing as high as No. 25 in the national rankings and capping off the regional meet with a seventh-place team finish. Sophomore Nadine McIntyre has been the heartbeat of the Trojan women, delivering another standout performance at Regionals. McIntyre clocked 19:27.13 to place 10th overall, earning All-Region honors and reaffirming her status among the top runners in the KJCCC this season.
Behind McIntyre, freshman Laina Larson posted a strong run, finishing 32nd (21:16.76), while Shirley Cotant followed close behind in 37th (22:11.35) to round out Colby's top three. The women's team has shown continued progress throughout the season, building experience and depth ahead of the national championships.
The Trojans will look to cap an already impressive fall campaign with strong showings on the national stage. The men aim to solidify their top-10 national ranking, while the women look to continue their rise against one of the deepest fields in recent years.
First year Head Coach, Mathew Scott, praised both groups for their steady improvement and competitiveness throughout the fall semester. "Our athletes have worked extremely hard to put themselves in this position," Scott said. "We've built consistency all year, and now it's about running our race and finishing the season strong."
The NJCAA Cross Country Championships will take place Saturday (Nov. 7) at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Fans can follow live results below.