For the last 20-plus years, Dee Brown has positioned Iowa Central to be among the best in the junior college cross country ranks.

That remains the plan this coming fall, as the Tritons welcome back a handful of regulars to blend in with some talented newcomers.

“Our team chemistry has been amazing so far,” Brown said. “It’s a smaller group of athletes, but I think that is why we are clicking so much better. No matter what, this team will be and will have a lot of fun and find many successes throughout our year.

“I can’t wait to see them open up in Iowa City.”

The Iowa Central men had their string of 14 consecutive Region XI team titles come to an end last year, placing second behind Iowa Western. They have 17 regional titles in 21 seasons under Brown.

Sophomore Hamza Mohamed was 10th at that meet a year ago, and is the leading returning runner along with Antonine Tshimanga-Kabeya. Other sophomores include Alex Aguilar, Chase Deiter, Kaden Golder and Ben Reyes.

Brian Kirwa and Mohamed Dahmouch are part of the new group of runners looking to fill the holes of those who graduated.

Kirwa is the younger brother of ICCC Hall of Famer and school record holder Stanley Kebenei, as well as former Tritons Frankline Tonui, Aspel Kiprob and Viola Kebenei.

“Brian comes from a long family tradition of runners,” Brown said. “Another newcomer (Dahmouch) has run times faster than some of our school records already in the 1,500 and 800.

“Our men have a great Top-3, but we need to see how our 4-7 develop.”

Iowa Central was eighth at nationals last year, three spots behind ICCAC preseason favorite Iowa Western. Indian Hills, the other Div. I program, finished 10th at the national meet.

Injuries limited what Brown could do on the women’s side last year, keeping them from competing at regionals where they had won 22 of the last 23 team titles prior to 2023.

Sophomore Natalie Bogdanova Kirilova from Spain returns after taking 11th at regionals. Joining her are several key freshmen including Yiddiya Bifa, Marie Garret and Alivia Edens.

Edens helped Tipton compete at the state meet last year while placing 67th overall in Class 2A. Former Fort Dodge Senior High runners Morgan Bodholdt and Darylinn Cook are also part of the incoming class.

“Yiddiya also has run timers faster than some of our school records,” Brown said. “Our women’s team is very deep through eight runners. It should be exciting to see how they progress.”

Brown will be assisted by Mark Bennett, who previously served as an assistant at Pima in Arizona. Bennett ran in college for Pima and at Southern Utah.

Regionals are set for Oct. 25 in Ottumwa with the NJCAA Championships taking place Nov. 9-12 in Richmond, Va.

2024 IOWA CENTRAL CROSS COUNTRY

Rosters

Men

Sophomores — Alex Aguilar Camarena, Mexico; Chase Deiter, Minnesota; Kaden Golder, Florida; Hamza Mohamed, Minnesota; Ben Reyes, Saint Charles; Antoine Tshimanga-Kabeya, France.

Freshmen — Mohamed Dahmouch, Morocco; Ala Elmbarki, Tunisia; Landon Fuller, Texas; Jonah Jahnke, Wisconsin; Brian Kirwa, Kenya; Brayden Kramber, Greenville; Rodney Maracle, Canada; Alex Marchand Fierro, Colorado; Alexis Ortiz, Illinois; Evan Paplow, Minnesota; Brennen Peterson, Minnesota; Tristan Strantz, Milford; Devan Turner, Wisconsin.

Women

Sophomore — Natalie Bogdanova Kirilova, Spain.

Freshmen — Yiddiya Bifa, Ethiopia; Morgan Bodholdt, Fort Dodge; Darylinn Cook, Fort Dodge; Alivia Edens, Tipton; Marie Garret, France; Juliette Gavois, France; Abbi Hutchinson, Minnesota; Imane Jourji, Morocco; Maud Lambotte, France.

Schedule

Aug. 30 — at Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City.

Sept. 6 — at Augustana Twilight in Sioux Fals, S.D.; 14 — at All-American Invitational in Decorah; 21 — at Greeno/Dirksen Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.; 28 — at Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark.

Oct. 19 — at Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer in West Salem, Wis.; 25 — at Region XI Championships in Ottumwa.

Nov. 9-12 — at NJCAA Championships in Richmond, Va.