LYNCHBURG, VA- It was a great weekend at the NJCAA Indoor National Championships hosted by Liberty University.
The Women's team had an outstanding performance led by Faith Chepengat's two national championships. Coming into the weekend ranked 7th in the nation the women would move up one spot in the final standings. Faith Chepengat led the Reivers with national championship performances in both the 3000m and 5000m races. Sierra Coward came into the weekend ranked 7th in the indoor Pentathlon but was able to grind out an amazing performance and finished 2nd with a score of 3154. Christine Irving had an amazing performance in the 400m dash coming into the weekend ranked 8th in the nation. Irving put together a gritty performance in Saturdays final to run a school-record time of 55.48.
The Men's team put together a great team performance finishing 14th as a team despite coming into the weekend ranked 19th. The men would finish the weekend with 4 All-Americans led by a 4th place finish from Freshman long jumper Tyrell Johnson. Shawn Kiptoo would finish 5th in the 3000m run, Shamar Deacon finished 6th in the 600m run with a time of 1:20.50, and Johnie Jean-Jacques finished 7th in the Shot Put with a throw of 15.96. The men came into the meet ranked 19th in the nation.
MEET HIGHLIGHTS
Women
- Faith Chepengat won the 3000m run (8:53.03) and the 5000m run (16:59.14)
- Christine Irving finished 2nd in the 400m dash (55.48)
- Sierra Coward finished 2nd in the Pentathlon (3148)
- Women's 4x400m relay (George, Clarke, Newman, Irving) finished 6th (3:51.44)
- Amya Clarke finished 16th in the 60m (7.62) and 13th in the 200m (24.59)
- Makeda Newman finished 12th in the 600m (1:40.88)
- Emmy Jepkemei finished 16th in the 1000m (3:11.50)
- Shania Parkinson finished 13th in the WT (13.68) and 15th in the SP (11.64)
- Aliyah George finished 16th in the 400m (58.85)
Men
- Tyrell Johnson finished 4th in the Long Jump (7.28m)
- Shawn Kiptoo finished 5th in the 5000m (14:54.50)
- Shamar Deacon finished 6th in the 600m (1:20.50)
- Johnie Jean-Jacques finished 7th in the Shot Put (15.96m) and 14th in the Weight Throw (13.67m)
- Maurice Thompson finished 15th in the 60m (6.80)
- Aarron Westmoreland finished 30th in the 60m (6.99)
- LeeAaron Berks finished 13th in the 600m (1:21.89)
- Ethan Brenneman finished 18th in the 800m (1:59.12)
- Gavin Klein finished 24th in the 1000m (2:46.23)
- Men's 4x400m relay (McNary, Hanson, O'Brien, Deacon) finished 12th (3:18.55)