Joliet races to historic NJCAA Cross Country Championship, men finish runner-up

(Story and picture courtesy of Joliet Junior College Athletics and www.jjcwolves.com)

The Joliet Junior College cross country teams made history at the National Junior College Athletic Association's Division III National Championship Meet in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Nov. 14.

(NJCAA Recaps: Men | Women) (Final Results)

The women's team scored 41 points to win the school's first-ever women's team national championship in any sport, and Tiffany Lehmann won the individual title covering the 5,000-meter course in 20:10 on a cold and windy day. It is the first individual national title for a JJC student-athlete since 1991 when Jennifer Karges won a tennis title.

This was Lehmann's first year of running cross country at any level. Previously, she played soccer for the Wolves, competing in 24 games over two seasons.

In addition, the Wolves had three other NJCAA All-Americans as Yesenia Suarez placed fifth, Ivet Rosiles finished 12th, and Erica Nurczyk crossed the finish line 15th.

"The feeling is unbelievable," said Wolves Head Coach Jeff DeGraw. "It's hard to win a national title in any sport, and especially hard when you have been ranked number one all season long because you have that added pressure. But all weekend, our women's team was so relaxed. They had fun with this and they came through on the biggest stage."

"Tiffany had never run a cross country race in her life before this season and what she did all season and winning the individual title is truly amazing," added DeGraw. 

Lehmann and Kellogg Community College's Emma Berning ran side-by-side until the two-mile mark when Lehmann gave a surge during a downhill portion of the course to put some distance between her and Berning, which secured a 14-second victory. 

"I knew she (Berning) was right with me, but I also knew I had to keep running hard," said Lehmann. "But right at the two-mile mark was a downhill and coach told me to go really hard on the downhill and that made the difference. I just kept going as hard as I could the last mile."

Lehmann also took home NJCAA DIII Runner of the Year and U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Central Region Women's Athlete of the Year awards.

Coach DeGraw was awarded the NJCAA DIII Women's Coach of the Meet and the USTFCCCA Central Region Women's Coach of the Year honors. 

On the men's side, the Wolves finished in the runner-up spot scoring 40 points behind Mineral Area Community College's record-setting 18 points. It was the best team finish for the JJC men's program in school history.

Julian Rosenbach led the Wolves with a fifth-place finish covering the 8,000-meter course in 27:58. Nate Chaidez finished eighth, Luke Talbot 11th, and Nick Chaidez 12th as all received NJCAA All-American awards.

The Wolves were also awarded the NJCAA DIII Gary Moore Award for Best Overall Program, which honors the college with the best combined men's and women's programs.

"I cannot begin to express how proud I am of our cross country teams, especially during this season of caution," said JJC Director of Athletics Gregg Braun. "Since Aug. 1, our student-athletes have followed the guidelines and procedures set forth by Coach DeGraw and Coach Beall to remain safe and healthy while competing in a full season of meets."

"In addition, every student-athlete on both of these rosters is from our district," added Braun. "It is amazing to see what our local athletes can do at the collegiate level, and I am so proud of our cross country program and their accomplishments." 

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Region 4, which did not hold a championship race due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, was also represented by outstanding performances from several other runners. A trio of College of DuPage runners earned NJCAA All-American status, led by sophomore Emily Fetzer's third overall time of 20:30.51. Sophomore Shaylinn Aver and freshman Ruth Kirkwood placed eighth and 11th, respectively. The Chaparrals men also ran to a pair of NJCAA All-American accolades, with freshman Jackson Bukala coming in seventh overall and first-year teammate Aiden Ihms taking 13th.