May 8, 2026
Reivers Sweep Region 11 Titles
COUNCIL BLUFFS - The program delivered one of its strongest all‑around championship showings to date, stacking event wins, national‑level marks, and podium sweeps across both the track and field.
Sprints & Hurdles Shine
Freshman Mary Laha continued her breakout season with a victory in the 100m (11.87) and a runner‑up finish in the 200m 23.89, both into heavy headwinds. She also ran 2nd on the women's 4x100m relay to a commanding win in 45.94, a mark that now ranks No. 8 nationally.
On the men's side, Kadeem Chinapoo placed 3rd in the 100m (10.58) and 2nd in the 200m, while also contributing to the men's 4x100m relay, which finished 2nd in 41.04.
In the hurdles, freshman Shantay Augustine won the 100m hurdles with a 14.09, while Maya Bergstrooem Weekes and Nickiya Shields added 3rd‑ and 4th‑place finishes.
Mid‑Distance & Distance Dominate
The distance squad delivered multiple event wins:
Pierre Carlier completed a rare double, winning the 1500m (3:53.28) and the 5000m 15:22.92.
Juliana Sakat claimed the women's 1500m and later won the 10,000m in a national No. 1 time (34:57.01) to set the region record.
Elizabeth Ewusie won the women's 5000m and placed 2nd in the 800m.
The men's 4x800m relay placed 2nd in 7:43.86, and a national top‑10 ranking. Alyssa Kulesa hit the national qualifying mark in the steeplechase with an 11:49.77, good for 2nd place.
Field Events Lead the Way
The field crew delivered multiple event titles and national‑level marks:
Rajay Hemmings swept the throws with wins in the shot put (18.41m) to set a Regional record, school record, and take the national lead, and discus (53.07m).
Josh Carter claimed the men's long jump with a massive 7.35m, ranking top‑10 nationally.
Taeja Bartee won the women's long jump (6.16m) and also scored in the 100m and 4x100m relay.
Gabriel Ortiz unleashed a 67.23m javelin throw, earning a school record, regional record, and a national No. 4 ranking.
Freshman Yman Ossie Tchiengue cleared 1.82m to win the women's high jump, the No. 1 mark in the nation.
Natasha Lynch won the hammer throw with a 55.42m effort. Lovely Hibbert was 2nd in the shot put and discus, 12.77m and 41.36m, personal best respectively.
The multi‑event athletes also contributed big points, highlighted by Rasheda Samuels and Kahdijah Bailey tying for the top mark in the heptathlon high jump and scoring across all seven events. Malia Howard set the region record in the shot put with a personal best toss of 11.96m and then came back to set another personal best in the open shot put with a 12.04m.
The Men's 4x4 won with a 3:18.01 to clinch the title for the men's squad.
Next up, the focus turns to the NJCAA Outdoor National Championships. This season, the Reivers have accumulated a whopping 76 NJCAA Qualifying marks between individual and relay performances. The meet will take place in Hobbs, New Mexico, May 15-17.
