No. 2-ranked College of DuPage ran away with the Region 4 title Saturday, totaling 24 points and claiming the individual title from freshman Nicholas Keeling in Kenosha, Wis.
 
The Chaps' top seven runners finished inside the top 11 to take the title for the second straight year. Joliet was second (42) and Harper third (72).
 
Keeling ran the 8,000-meter course in 26 minutes, 11.47 seconds. Teammate Axel Huerta was second — both earned All-Region honors.
 
Anthony Eddy, Sebastian Esparza and Sheldon Powell placed 6-7-8 and Caleb DeBoer was 10^th and Randy Almarales 11^th.
 
Head coach Robert Cervenka was named region coach of the year.
 
The Chaps now prepare for Saturday's NJCAA Championship, held in Westfield, Mass.
 
Coach Mallory Johnson says
"We trained pretty hard this week and maintained our intensity. We ran a full squad for our guys, and were very good at picking it up if a guy was falling back. Nicholas ran a tactical race and Axel earned a PR at 8k on a very difficult course.''
 
NJCAA Region 4 Cross Country
8,000 meters
UW-Parkside course
Team: Chaparrals 24, Joliet Junior College 42, Harper 72
Chaparral individuals
1. Nicholas Keeling 26:11.47
2. Axel Huerta 27:37.87
6. Anthony Eddy 28:23.09
7. Sebastian Esparza 28:30.61
8. Sheldon Powell 28:37.03
10. Caleb DeBoer 28:48.82
11. Randy Almarales 29:06.97
22. Matt Fitzgerald 33:37.57
25. Harry Llobera 35:41.62