
NIACC's Almelien places 4th at Trent Smith Invite
MASON CITY - NIACC freshman Owen Almelien placed fourth in the men's 8-kilometer race Friday at the sixth annual Trent Smith Invitational.
Almelien, who prepped at North Butler High School, covered the 8-kilometers on the NIACC campus in a time of 27 minutes, 6 seconds. The Trojans were third in the team standings with 42 points.
Iowa Central was the team champion with 29 points and DMACC was second with 42 points.
Iowa Central's Jadon Boots was the individual champion in a time of 26:09, which is the sixth fastest time in Trent Smith Invitational history.
NIACC sophomore Bryson Canton was eighth in a time of 27:33. The Trojans' sophomore Breyden Christensen was 10th (27:36), freshman Joey Ringo was 12th (27:43) and sophomore Vlad Starrett was 22nd in a personal-best time of 29:31.
Also for the Trojans, freshman Chris Marroquin was 24th (29:43), sophomore Jacob Vais was 25th (29:53), freshman Eli Bergman was 26th (30:02) and sophomore Hugo Massa was 32nd (32:14).
It was the first 8K race for the Trojans' freshman. NIACC opened its season on Sept. 1 at the Augustana Twilight, which was a four-mile race.
NIACC returns to action Sept. 22 at the Roy Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota.
Team standings - Iowa Central 29, DMACC 42, NIACC 53, Faith Baptist Bible College 116.
TRENT SMITH INVITATIONAL HISTORY
PAST TEAM CHAMPIONS
MEN
2017 – NIACC 36 points
2018 - Hawkeye CC 28 points
2019 - University of Minnesota-Duluth 27 points
2020 – NIACC 20 points
2021 - Indian Hills 30 points
2023 - Iowa Central 29 points
WOMEN
2017 - Iowa Western 22 points
2018 - Hawkeye CC 44 points
2019 - Minnesota State 22 points
2020 - Iowa Central 30 points
2021 - Indian Hills 24 points
2023 - DMACC 30 points
PAST INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS
MEN
2017 - Brian Jacques (NIACC) 25:17
2018 - Abdiaziz Wako (NIACC) 26:41
2019 - Benjamin Allen (Concordia) 26:15
2020 - Sam Mickelson (Hawkeye CC) 26:17
2021 - Melvin Kipmemboi (NIACC) 25:22
2023 - Jadon Boots (Iowa Central) 26:09
WOMEN
2017 - Joanna Topham (Hawkeye CC) 19:20
2018 - Marissa Kuik (Waldorf) 18:44
2019 - Allyssa Reeves (Minnesota State) 18:48
2020 - Sarah Bertry (NIACC) 19:31
2021 - Sarah Bertry (NIACC) 18:32
2023 - Lacy Wolfram (unattached) 19:47
Top 10 Trent Smith Invitational men's times (8K) (2017-23)
Brian Jacques (NIACC) 25:17 (2017)
Melvin Kipkemboi (NIACC) 25:22 (2021)
Brian Kitur (Unattached) 25:47 (2017)
Wal Khat (NIACC alumni) 25:47 (2017)
Blake Keller (NIACC) 26:05 (2017)
Jadon Boots (Iowa Central) 26:09 (2023)
Benjamain Allen (Concordia University) 26:15 (2019)
Sam Mickelson (Hawkeye CC) 26:17 (2020)
Melvin Kipkemboi (NIACC) 26:21 (2020)
Cole Lebourgeois (University of Minnesota-Duluth) 26:24 (2019)
Top 10 Trent Smith Invitational women's times 5K (2017-23)
Sarah Bertry (NIACC) 18:32 (2021)
Marissa Kuik (Waldorf) 18:44 (2018)
Allyssa Reeves (Minnesota State) 18:48 (2019)
Joanna Topham (Hawkeye CC) 18:51 (2018)
Carisa Weyenberg (Minnesota State) 18:54 (2019)
Amanda Montplaisir (Minnesota State) 19:16 (2019)
Joanna Topham (Hawkeye CC) 19:20 (2017)
Ivy Glade (Minnesota State) 19:23 (2019)
Alayna Kollasch (unattached) 19:28 (2018)
Emma Davison (NIACC) 19:30 (2019)
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