Young and Opiew crowned Region 24 Champions in muddy conditions Thursday

Charleston, Ill. – The Vincennes University Trailblazer Cross Country teams finally took part in a race where the majority of the runners were from other junior colleges in the 2021 Region 24 Cross Country Championships hosted by Eastern Illinois University.

VU sophomores Kyra Young and Manamanya Opiew each took home the NJCAA Division I Region 24 Individual Championships, with Young finishing with a time of 20:49.2 and Opiew ending at 27:41.3 in muddy conditions at Tom Woodall Panther Trail.

Vincennes as a team finished behind Division II Heartland, with the Hawks having five of the first six finishers in the Men's 8k race.

The Trailblazers' women's team led by Young also had a Top-10 finish from freshman Brittany Page, who finished ninth at 21:22.6.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Koenig and freshman Hope Laughlin finishing in the Top-10 with Koenig ending at 14th with a time of 22:25.3 and Laughlin finishing 17th at 23:25.8.

The VU women's team was rounded out by sophomore Kyra Davis, who battled the rain and muddy course to finish with a time of 26:27.7.

"The conditions were tough," VU Assistant Cross Country Coach Tyler Steigenga said. "The course was muddy and there were puddles everywhere. Runners and spectators alike were covered in mud by the end."

"It wasn't a fast day, but all the women still ran very well," Steigenga added. "It was their best race of the season. Kaitlyn ran get coming back from an ankle injury that sidelined her for two weeks and Kyra Davis managed new personal record by 1:41 in the brutal conditions."

"It was great to finally finish with a full team and see them run great too," Steigenga said. "I'm excited to see what they can do in a very competitive National Meet."

Vincennes' men's team was led by Opiew and freshman Reed Lawless. Lawless came away with a Top-10 finish, ending with a time of 28:14.6, good for 7th place.

Sophomores Ian Boit and Walter Tanui and freshmen Ernest Momodu and Trey Browne each came away with Top-15 finishes at the Region meet.

Boit placed 12th at 28:53.9, Momodu 13th at 29:08.7, Tanui 14th, 29:17.4 and Browne 15th at 29:46.0.

VU freshmen Tate Hall and Austin Nigh finished in the Top-20 with Hall coming in at 18th with a time of 30:03.3 and Nigh ending at 30:10.8 at 19th.

The Trailblazers were closed out by sophomores Kyle Baugh and Austin Fadina. Baugh finished with a time of 33:37.0 and Fadina ended his day with a time of 35:18.9.

"Manny and Reed did a good job of leading the way again for us," Steigenga said. "Our 3-5 runners need to be closer to them at Nationals to finish where we want in a much deeper field."

The VU Cross Country teams will now turn their attentions to the National stage, where the Trailblazers will compete in the NJCAA Cross Country Championships Saturday, Nov. 13 at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Va. First race is set to begin at 11 a.m. eastern.

Vincennes will then end their 2021 Cross Country season with the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships Tuesday, Nov. 15 also at Pole Green Park at 8 a.m. eastern.

"I'm proud of them for finishing well in tough conditions," Steigenga said of his teams. "We're still a little tired from some hard workouts the last 10 days, but we've got two weeks to make sure we're in good form for Nationals."

TEAM RESULTS

Women's 5K

Heartland – 19

Kaskaskia – 63

VINCENNES – 68

Men's 8K

Heartland – 16

VINCENNES – 51

Kaskaskia 93

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Women's 5K

Kyra Young – 6, 20:49.2

Brittany Page – 9, 21:22.6

Kaitlyn Koenig – 14, 22:25.3

Hope Laughlin – 17, 23:25.8

Kyra Davis – 22, 26:27.7

Men's 8K

Manamanya Opiew – 5, 27:41.3

Reed Lawless – 7, 28:14.6

Ian Boit – 12, 28:53.9

Ernest Momodu – 13, 29:08.7

Walter Tanui – 14, 29:17.4

Trey Browne – 15, 29:46.0

Tate Hall – 18, 30:03.3

Austin Nigh – 19, 30:10.8

Kyle Baugh – 31, 33:37.0

Austin Fadina – 32, 35:18.9