SOURCE: Ahashie Judeliver Eli
Ghanaian long-distance runner Aziz Mohammed delivered a sensational performance over the weekend powering Northwest Missouri State University to victory at the NCAA Central Regional Cross Country Championships in Joplin, Missouri.
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The senior standout clocked an impressive 29:53.48 in the men’s 10K, a personal best and the second-fastest time in the school’s history as he stormed to a first-place finish to lead the Bearcats to the team title.
Mohammed’s dominance set the tone for Northwest’s strong showing, with teammates Drew Atkins (30:04.49), Maxime Touron (31:20.62), Grayson Tapp (31:22.31), and Barnabe Gabillet (31:35.53) all finishing in the top 30 to secure a combined 72 points, enough to clinch the regional crown and an automatic qualification to the NCAA Division II National Championships in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on November 22.
The Ghanaian, who has been steadily improving since his debut season, now sits just behind Jhordan Ccope (29:38.1, 2019) on the school’s all-time 10K leaderboard.
His performance in Joplin not only cements his name among Northwest’s greats but also reinforces his growing reputation as one of the most consistent collegiate runners in the U.S.
With the national championships just days away, all eyes will be on Mohammed as he aims to cap off his college cross country season with another history-making run for the Bearcats and for Ghana. 🇬🇭🏃♂️💨
Top Finishers – Northwest Missouri State (Men’s 10K, NCAA Central Regionals)
1️⃣ Aziz Mohammed — 29:53.48 🥇
2️⃣ Drew Atkins — 30:04.49
19️⃣ Maxime Touron — 31:20.62
20️⃣ Grayson Tapp — 31:22.31
29️⃣ Barnabe Gabillet — 31:35.53
Final Team Standings (Men):
🥇 Northwest Missouri State — 72
🥈 Washburn — 104
🥉 East Central — 116
