It will undoubtedly be an exciting and busy season for the Iowa Central cross country team, as the program is set to host three of the biggest meets of the year.

The Tritons, again led by Dee Brown, will welcome in the top teams from the regional on Friday, Oct. 24 for the Region 11 Championships. Eight days later, the NJCAA Championships will take place from Lakeside Golf Course and Kennedy Park, followed by the NJCAA Half-Marathon Championships on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Before that, Brown will get Iowa Central in form with races in Wisconsin, Ames, Iowa City, Nebraska, Arkansas and Illinois.

“We are excited to be the hosts of the regional, as well as having the national meets in (Fort Dodge later in the season),” said Brown, who has been at the controls of the cross country program since 2004.

Over the past two-plus decades, the Tritons have captured 40 total NJCAA national championships in cross country and track and field under Brown, with 36 coming since 2010. He has held the title of Director of Track and Field and Cross Country since 2018.

Last fall, the Iowa Central women finished second overall nationally behind Salt Lake and ahead of New Mexico JC. Abbi Hutchinson, who was 24th at nationals, is the top returning runner. Yididiya Bifa, Maud Lambotte and Marie Garret have all moved on.

The only other returnee is Juliette Gavois, who was 66th overall.

“We lost quite a few individuals from last year,” Brown said. “It remains to be seen how we might fare at the end of the season, but we definitely have some hard working individuals with big goals.”

The roster includes Fort Dodge Senior High grads Darylinn Cook and Paige Lewis, along with Alivia Edens from Tipton.

On the men’s side, the Tritons brought in several newcomers, including former St. Edmond standouts Levi Odor-Westrum and Liam Shannon. Both freshmen were key pieces for Mike Szalat and the Gaels in recent years, helping them reach the state cross country meet as a team last fall.

“It is always nice when you can have some local kids competing for spots,” Brown said. “Levi and Liam are both hard workers who come from a strong program and understand what it takes to have success in this sport.”

Back from the nationals team a year ago that placed 19th are Evan Paplow and Rodney Maracle. Paplow was 110th individually, and Maracle was 131st.

“Our men’s team looks to be very solid,” Brown said. “We hope to make a big impact after a disappointing season last year due to injuries.”

Brown will be assisted by Mark Bennett, who previously served as head coach at Pima in Arizona, where he also competed and earned multiple All-American honors before running for Southern Utah.

Iowa Central opened the season on Friday in Ames at the Cyclone Preview.

2025 IOWA CENTRAL CROSS COUNTRY

Men’s Roster

Sophomores — Ala Elmbarki, Tunisia; Landon Fuller, Texas; Jonah Jahnke, Wisconsin; Brian Kirwa, Kenya; Rodney Maracle, Canada; Evan Paplow, Minnesota; Tristan Strantz, Milford.

Freshmen — Brennan Boden, Minden; Chakib Cherkaoui Rhazouani, Morocco; Jonathan Ferguson, Cedar Falls; Waylon Hall, Illinois; Emmanuel Kiplagat, Kenya; Soufyane Laaziz, Morocco; Hayden Lensing, Minnesota; Tyler Mager, Minnesota; Levi Odor-Westrum, Fort Dodge; Taha Ouchene, Morocco; Saad Tifi Loutfi, Morocco; Said Rifi Loutfi, Morocco; Liam Shannon, Fort Dodge.

Women’s Roster

Sophomores — Darylinn Cook, Fort Dodge; Alivia Edens, Tipton; Juliette Gavois, France; Abbi Hutchinson, Minnesota.

Freshmen — Fanny den Uyi, Netherlands; Paige Lewis, Fort Dodge; Kylie Melchi, Illinois.

Schedule

Aug. 29 — at Cyclone Preview in Ames.

Sept. 5 — at Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City; 20 — at Greeno/Dirksen Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.

Oct. 4 — at Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark.; 17 — at Bradley Pink Invitational in Peoria, Ill.; 24 — host Region 11 Championships.

Nov. 8 — host NJCAA Championships; 11 — host NJCAA Half-Marathon Championships.