Trojans Excel on Home Course at Region 6 Championships
by Derek White
October 24, 2025
The Colby Community College cross country teams delivered a strong showing at the NJCAA Region 6 Championships on Friday, October 24, as they hosted the event at Meadow Lake Golf Course. With ideal mid-50s temperatures and a challenging layout featuring nearly 200 feet of elevation change, the Trojans used their familiarity with the rolling terrain to post some of their best performances of the season.
Head Coach Kyle Lawson said both squads approached the meet with focus and maturity, turning in results that reflected months of consistent training and steady improvement.
The Trojan men’s team claimed third place with 92 points, narrowly edging Garden City by a single point in a tight regional battle. “The men had one of their best races of the season,” Lawson said. “They ran with good control over the hills and maintained rhythm through the final 2K.”
Leading the charge was sophomore standout Japhet Kiprono, who finished eighth overall in 24:54 after holding his own against a fast front pack. Kenan Delestre followed close behind in 13th with a time of 25:19, while Enoha Reizabal-Bella crossed in 19th at 26:15. Vincent Kirui (24th, 26:33) and Thomas Calas (28th, 26:51) rounded out the team’s scoring five.
Depth again proved to be one of Colby’s strengths, with Alexandre Leroy (33rd, 27:22) and Andrew Berger (34th, 27:23) completing the top seven. Lawson praised the group’s consistency, noting that the one-through-five spread of just under two minutes was among the best of the season. “We still have room to tighten up our pack compression, but this was a well-executed team effort that reflects the work we’ve been putting in all fall,” he added.
On the women’s side, the Trojans placed seventh overall with 171 points and walked away with four season-best performances. Nadine McIntyre led the way with a tenth-place finish in 19:27, showing strong composure on the course’s climbs. Behind her, Laina Larson (21:16) and Shirley Cotant (22:11) both turned in solid efforts, with Kaylen McAtee (23:38) and Blanca Gallegos (25:55) completing the scoring lineup.
“The women handled the course very well and came away with four season bests, which is a big positive at this point in the season,” Lawson said. “We’re learning to stay engaged through the middle of the race and close with more authority, and that progress really showed here.”
Overall, Lawson said the home meet provided the perfect springboard into the postseason. “Both teams competed with poise and toughness on a course that required strength and patience,” he said. “The men’s third-place finish and the women’s season-best efforts give us strong momentum heading into Nationals. Fitness is where it needs to be, and both groups are trending in the right direction.”
The Trojans now turn their attention to the NJCAA National Championships in Dodge City on November 8, where they’ll look to carry their home-course momentum onto the national stage.