Yetis Battle the Elements at NJCAA Cross Country Championships

The Cleveland Community College cross country team proved their toughness at the NJCAA National Championship in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on November 8—racing through heavy snow and below-freezing temperatures that turned the course into a true test of grit and endurance.

Freshman Brayden Rushing led the men's team with an impressive performance, finishing in the top third of the national field and clocking a time of 29:54 on the snow-covered 8K course. Sophomore Leilanni Delano continued her standout season as the top women's finisher for the Yetis, running 28:10 in the 5K despite the challenging conditions.

Freshman Eli Stroud and sophomore Jaylon Porter also turned in strong races for Cleveland, pushing through the bitter cold to close out the season with determination and heart.

Season Wrap-Up
This fall marked a season of steady progress and standout performances for the Yetis. Eight runners improved their times by more than two minutes from the first meet of the season, with Fred Nelson showing remarkable growth by cutting over five minutes from his time.

The men's team delivered strong results throughout the year, including three top-10 finishers at the Region 10 Championship—Brayden Rushing, Eli Stroud, and Jaylon Porter—and two All-Region 10 selections in Rushing and Stroud. Brayden also recorded the team's fastest time of the season, a 27:59, just three seconds shy of the school record.

On the women's side, Leilanni Delano continued to make history, becoming the first Yetis women's runner to earn All-Region 10 honors in consecutive years, solidifying her place as one of the program's top performers.

The Yetis wrapped up the 2025 season embodying what the program stands for—resilience, growth, and grit—no matter the weather.