Iola will host the NJCAA Region VI Cross Country Championship meet for the first time Saturday at 10 a.m.
Fifteen Kansas community colleges make up the field for Region VI.
The Jayhawk Conference is divided into two divisions, Jayhawk East and Jayhawk West. Saturday will crown a Region VI champion, and winner of the individual divisions.
Head ACC cross country coach Vince DeGrado has won the conference 12 out of 14 attempts, and the Region VI three consecutive years prior to last season. Last season, Allen won the Jayhawk East, but finished third in its quest for the Region VI title.
Luckily for the Red Devils this season, DeGrado will be on the course coaching his runners throughout the meet, a luxury ACC was without during last seasons race. DeGrado is coming off of a suspension from NJCAA events due to an altercation with a coach after defending a runner in Texas two years ago.
DeGrado has been preparing his runners, giving them extra time to learn the course they will be competing at Saturday. The course has been described by DeGrado as a death march, so ACC hopes to have an upper hand heading into the competition.
The men will race the 8000-meter course at 10 a.m, followed by the women an hour later.
