As the season comes to a conclusion, the Pratt Community College cross country team competed in the NJCAA National Championships. The Beavers went toe-to-toe with the nation's best as they looked to prove themselves on the grandest stage of them all.
Coming into the event as the No. 16 ranked team in the nation, the Lady Beavers were represented by seven student-athletes. The women ran the 5K race for the last time this season and made history by doing so.
The day was highlighted by sophomore Aminata Kenyawani who finished tenth individually among the nation's best. Kenyawani led the Beavers with a 19:28.3 time. Her run across the finish line will make her eligible for All-American status when the awards are released at a later date. Her performance makes her the best-placing finisher in the history of women's cross country at PCC.
"Ami (Aminata Kenyawani) went out and ran the race she was looking for at the national level. A top 10 finish in NJCAA DI running is very special. She sold herself as one of the best runners in the country and she is the top female distance athlete in the KJCCC and Region VI," said Head Cross Country Coach Eric Larson. "Expect more All-American honors to come as we look toward the track season. She is overall the best distance runner to ever compete at Pratt Community College. What makes this so special is the fact that she wasn't very fast when she came here. Her own development got here where she is today."
A fifty-fifth place finish for freshman Shantierra Jackson helped Pratt build upon their accolades. With a time of 21:04.0, Jackson was the second-fastest athlete for the Beavers. She was also the fastest freshman runner for her team.
In third for Pratt was Jamie DeLaTorre who achieved a ninety-second place finish as an individual. Running a 21:37.8 allowed DeLaTorre to place among the top 100 long-distance athletes.
Second-year runner Anastasia Graves and her time of 21:57.4 made a difference for her team. In her last 5,000 kilometer event at Pratt, Graves came out as PCC's fourth strongest runner.
Rounding out the top five times was sophomore LeeAsha Madison. Madison produced a 23:21.5 time which placed her in one hundred ninety-seventh.
At the culmination of the women's race, Pratt earned a spot as the No. 14 team in the nation. Initially tied with Paradise Valley Community College, the Beavers came away as the 13th best program in the country after a tie-breaking sixth runner was evaluated from each program. Sophomore Celeste Zamarron was the difference maker for her team with a time of 23:21.5. The 13th place overall finish marks the highest that the women's cross country program at PCC has ever finished at the national level.
The men's race followed shortly after. Three athletes were tasked with representing Pratt in the 8K event. Freshman Erick Estrada and sophomores Jared Shriver and Christian Collins were the distance runners for the blue and white.
Leading the pack was Estrada with a time of 29:11.3. He was the best male finisher for the Beavers in one hundred twenty-seventh place.
In one hundred sixty-first place was Collins who achieved a time of 29:53.6. Shriver rounded out the event with a time of 30:48.8. He finished as the one hundred ninety-fourth quickest athlete.
"Nationals was fantastic for this team. The guys got championship experience as freshmen and sophomores. The girls worked really hard and all the work paid off," said Larson.
PCC cross country runs next at the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala. The race will take place on Nov. 17. beginning at 8 a.m.