Tuesday morning, November 17th, 2020 would go down as a historical day for the Trinidad State Trojans. It was expected to be the first time any TSJC team would compete in the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships. However, in the course of just over 90 minutes it became so much more.
The morning brought chilly air to Fort Dodge, Iowa with the temperature around 29 degrees as 99 of the best and bravest distance runners the NJCAA had to offer toed the starting line for a 13.1 mile race through the town and country.
Trinidad State Ladies Win National Title
The women's race began at 10:00am with a slow start to what would end up being a thrilling finish. With so far to go, many of the top competitors opted to spend the early miles scoping each other out. At 3 miles the race was led by three athletes from host school Iowa Central Community College and an athlete from Cloud County Community College. Half a minute later a trio from Trinidad State was accompanied by an athlete from Pasco-Hernando State College. At five miles Iowa Central held a commanding lead with 6 points, followed by Trinidad State with 15. Shortly thereafter the Trinidad State ladies started their charge to a National Championship.
Ashley Lagat, Sheilah Cheruiyot, and Sharon Jesang spent the next 5 miles pulling away from the runner who once matched them step for step and reeling in those who had previously pulled away. From five miles to ten miles they put over five minutes on the athlete once accompanying them. Lagat and Cheruiyot passed two Iowa Central athletes, swinging the score to 10 points for the Trojans and 11 points for the Iowa Central Tritons. Though the score would hold all the way to the finish, the last three miles suffered no lack of excitement as Sharon Jesang battled back and forth with Iowa Central's Rosalie Fish for the entire last mile. Ashley Lagat ran an excellent race to finish 3rd in the nation and win her second All-American award of the Championship week. Sheilah Cheruiyot stalked her teammate for much of the race, eventually finishing 4th overall after a long and hilly 13 miles. Sharon Jesang battled all the way to the finish line to finish 6th in the nation. Cheruiyot and Jesang joined Lagat as All-Americans. "The ladies made history today," exclaimed Coach Lauren Masterson. "We made a plan to be conservative with the pace early on, and then close as hard as possible the last six miles. I'll admit they made me a bit nervous when they let some runners slip away early on. But I never should have doubted them. They came charging by them in the second half of the race and closed the door on a National Championship." Following the ladies win Coach Lauren Masterson was named the 2020 Half Marathon National Coach of the Year.
Though history had been made, the Trojan runners still weren't sure they'd won until official results confirmed it a few minutes following Jesang's finish. Not only had the Trojans won by a mere one point, but they'd done so with the fourth lowest score in the history of the event. "In a race this long you're completely exhausted after and it can be difficult to think and show emotion," said Coach Masterson. "The ladies made us all very proud to be Trojans today. Nothing about this year has been easy, and our training is never easy, but everything feels worth it when you go down in the history books." This marks Trinidad State's first National Championship in 81 years participating in NJCAA sports. This is the first time TSJC has competed in the event after bringing back the men's and women's running programs in the fall of 2016. The women's individual title was won by Iowa Central's Eleonora Curtabbi.
Trinidad State Men Finish 4th, Stanton 5th
Ten minutes after the ladies took to the course a large pack of men flew down the road and onto the rolling half marathon course. In contrast to the women, the men began quickly with a fast pace separating the pack early on. Awet Beraki of Cloud County Community College got out to an early lead and would never be challenged. As he did just days before in the Cross Country Championships, Micah Stanton tucked into the lead pack and followed for the first few miles. Felix Kemei was close behind, though he would suffer an injury during a turn that would lead to a long and painful race. Andy Setser and Aldo Zavala were only a short ways back, biding their time in the long race.
Stanton moved into fourth place by mile five and pushed to drop a host of runners stalking him. By mile ten he would move into third place, but those who had shadowed him for nearly ten miles over the unrelenting hills eventually slipped by before the finish. Stanton finished 5th overall, achieving All-American status and his second top ten placing in the nation in only four days. Though in much pain, Kemei's superior training and mental strength helped him get to the finish line in 12th place to help him earn his second All-American award in his time as a Trojan. Andy Setser and Aldo Zavala both moved up throughout the race to finish 21st and 22nd overall and help solidify the Trojans fourth place finish.
"I am very pleased with the men's races," stated Trojans Coach Masterson. "Micah really asserted himself and raced fearlessly. Felix suffered an injury, but I applaud his toughness to run over ten hard miles on a significant injury. Andy and Aldo made me proud. They've both really improved throughout the year and have put a cherry on top of their seasons."
The Iowa Central Tritons took the men's National Championship with Cloud County close behind. Micah Stanton came into the weekend having never been an All-American and walks away with two All-American awards (Cross Country & Half Marathon). The Trojans will look ahead to indoor track which is set to begin in January.