CCCC women runner-up at NJCAA championship

FORT DODGE, Iowa — The Cloud County Community College men's and women's cross country teams placed in the top four in the NJCAA Championships on Saturday.
Finishing just one point behind national champion Ranger College, the Cloud County women placed second in the meet.
Ranger College captured the title with 75 points. Cloud County scored 76 and the College of Southern Utah was third with 104.
The Cloud County men finished fourth in the meet with 122 points.
Host Iowa Central Community College won the men's national title with 65 points. College of Southern Idaho was second with 91 and Iowa Western Community College was third with 95.
Sophomore Patricia Koma led the way for the Cloud County women by placing second individually with a time of 18:46.16.
Kya Johnson turned in a time of 19:52.05 to place 14th for Cloud County.
Maryse Mbenoun was just one spot back in 15th in 19:52.71.
Pamela Milano finished 17th with a time of 19:58.01.
Ludjenie Mondesir rounded out the top five for the Thunderbirds by finishing 28th in 20:31.12.
Cloud County had Abbey Hoover place 39th in 20:47.93 and Emma Holthaus finished 49th in 21:16.15.
Faith Linga, Iowa Western Community College, was the individual champion for the second straight year with a time of 18:10.90.
“The experience in 2020 was a roller coaster, and I'm so happy our team got a full season and a championship race to compete in,” Cloud County coach Drew Mahin said. “I felt like we have grown so much in the last 95-plus days, and to come home with so many All-Americans and get a team trophy is something I'll never forget.”
The Cloud County men were led by sophomore Habtamu Geta who ran 25:20.50 to place third.
Awet Beraki crossed in sixth place for the T-Birds with a time of 25:36.65.
Michael Iyali ran 26:28:20 to place 21st.
Rylan Cheney was 46th in 27:30.92.
Linus Limo placed 49th in 27:35.89.
Cloud County had Ryder Amos finish 134th in 31:29.40.
Kevin Bungei, Iowa Central, won the race with a time of 24:57.38.