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Posted 12/11/17

Triton Cross Country and Track and Field Athlete Adva Cohen, a freshman from Israel, has made an immediate impact on the NJCAA Cross Country scene.  Cohen won both the Cross Country Championships and Half Marathon races this fall, and was honored with All-American and National Athlete of the Year Awards.  Now, Cohen is leaving her mark on the Israel Track and Field National team and Athletic Associations. 

Earlier this summer, Cohen took place in the European U23 Track and Field Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland, at Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak Stadium.  Cohen's 9^th place finishing time of 10:07.82 in the 3000m Steeplechase was a new National Record for Israel (Adva also holds the Israel National Record for the Half Marathon with her NJCAA Half Marathon Championships time of 1:20:25).  With her successes this year in Track and Field, Adva has been named the Israel Athletic Association's National Track and Field Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.

When asked about how her past experiences have helped her reach this point, and what it means to represent Israel on the World Track and Field stage, Adva had this to say:

"My track and field career began 7 years ago at the age of 15. During those years my progress was gradual. I enjoyed the middle distances and slowly started winning meets and competitions which built my confidence. I learnt how to compete and from one to the next I knew what I needed to do to keep improving. Less than 2 years ago I decided together with my coach Roman Ferdman to try running the 3000m Steeple Chase. I worked extremely hard and with his guidance I exceeded my own expectation and broke a 12-year-old National Record and continued to break the National Record three more times ending up number 9 in the European U23 Championships last July. So, this year was definitely my breakthrough year and for me this is just the start. I plan to keep working hard and get better and better from one season to the next and one day compete at the Olympic Games representing my home, Israel.

"There is no better feeling than representing your country and mine is Israel. I am extremely proud to call Israel my home and wear the blue and white uniform on the international track and field stage.

"There are many people that helped me with my success as an athlete, too many to mention. But there are 2 major contributors. My family and friends, my constant support system in life. They cheer me on, lift me up when I am down and help me become a better person and athlete. Both my parents, Yigal and Rika, have been my number one supporter taking care of anything I need so that I can focus on training. The other contributor without whom I wouldn't be interviewed right now is my coach from day one Roman Ferdman. He is like a second father to me. I learnt and am still learning from him how to be a professional athlete from the failures to the successes. He taught me that hard work pays off, to keep fighting until the finish line and never look back. My success is his success. Also, my new team at Iowa Central College including Coaches Dee Brown and Jeremiah Feine have helped me continue my success as an athlete in the USA. I also would like to mention my club back home, Leader Athletics Club, for supporting me the last few years and making sure I have the conditions I need to pursue my dream.

"It was hard leaving home to a new country with a new language with even different weather conditions, but from the start I felt welcomed and I had help adjusting. My teammates are amazing helping me on and off the track. The support system of the college, mainly the team of coaches is great. I feel I can focus on mine and the team's goals."

Cohen and the rest of the Triton Track and Field team will return to action in the new year when they head to the University of Iowa for a January 13^th Indoor opener.