Pratt Community College Sophomore Aminata Kenyawani has been declared as an All-American Female Cross Country Athlete for the 2018 season by the National Junior College Athletic Association and the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Kenyawani has been awarded the honor after the completion of the NJCAA National Championship Meet where she earned a top 10 finish among the best long-distance runners in the nation. A time of 19:28.3 gave the second-year Beaver runner automatic considerations for an All-American status.

"Ami receiving an All-American honor is just the reward to her work ethic and her mindset of constant improvement. I preach constant improvement to all my athletes. I'm very proud of her and, she is well on her way to becoming something great," said Head Cross Country Coach Eric Larson. "The NJCAA is just finding out how good Ami is getting, and she will be the talk of elite long-distance athletes as we continue through this year."

The NJCAA has deemed Kenyawani as a Second Team All-American. Runners who finished in the top five at the national meet are named First Team. Those between sixth and tenth are considered Second Team. The USTFCCCA names the top 15 athletes of the meet as Consensus All-Americans as well, which means Kenyawani is considered for the honors easily.

"It's an honor to be an All-American in cross country at the college level after years and years work. It's indeed a dream come true and a blessing. To be the first NJCAA Division I Female Cross Country Runner in four years for Pratt Community College really feels great and very humbling. Nothing ever came easy for me. I had to sacrifice a lot to get where I am today. Effort and hard work are what got me this," said Kenyawani. "Thank you to my coach, Eric Larson, for taking me in when I was never fast and helping to develop me into the runner I am today."

Kenyawani and the PCC cross country team will compete in their last meet of 2018 when they travel for the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala. The event will start bright and early at 8 a.m.