NMJC (M-T&F) Qualifies 16 in 1st Meet of 2026, Nsiah Sets National Record
The NMJC men's track and field team began the 2026 indoor season Jan. 16-17 at the Corky Classic in Lubbock, Texas.
The men finished the meet with 16 national qualifying standards. The Thunderbirds will send those athletes to the 2026 NJCAA Indoor T&F Championships in Topeka, Kan., March 6-7.
Sophomore sprinter Benjamin Nsiah set an NJCAA record in the 300m with a time of 32.97. The event is not run at nationals but has become popular to run in recent years. Nsiah was named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week for his performance. The previous record was held by former T-Bird TK Pahuwa (33.42).
David Nyamufarira started his sophomore season out strong with two national qualifying standards. The sprinter ran a 6.62 in the 60m to move into the No. 1 spot in the NJCAA for the event. He followed up that performance with a 21.35 in the 200m which put him into the No. 6 slot in the NJCAA this year.
Rayen Chiha had a great weekend in his first meet with the T-Birds. The middle distance runner is knocking on the door of the indoor 800m and 1000m school records. Chiha met the national standard with a 1:51.60 in the 800m Friday night. The time is No. 5 in the NJCAA and .54 seconds from Romain Toth's 2025 record run. The freshman was even better in the 1000m on Saturday crossing the line in 2:26.02, good for No. 3 in the NJCAA.
Distance runner Mohammed Mrahi qualified for nationals in the 3000m Friday night. The sophomore ran an 8:37.07 to rank No. 6 in the NJCAA.
Carlos Brown was a national qualifier in the 60m with a time of 6.71. The finish sits No. 6 in JUCO for the event.
Sophomore Romain Toth cruised in the 600Y run with a time of 1:10.49. The finish converts 1:18.95 which ranks No. 8 in the NJCAA and eclipses the national qualifying standard.
Elmehdi Bouchouata punched his ticket to nationals in both the 800m and the 1000m this weekend. The freshman ran a 1:53.93 in the 800m and a 2:28.43 in the 1000m. The times rank No. 14 and No. 10 in the NJCAA.
Now over to the field side.
Jumper Bastien Cadeot led the field events nationally qualifying in the triple and the long jump. The freshman jumper leapt 7.76m in the long jump to claim the top spot in the NJCAA for the event. Cadeot is No. 9 in the NJCAA in the triple jump following a 14.45m performance.
Sophomore Samuel Ospina is picking up where he left off last season with a 5.03m clearance in the pole vault Friday. The national qualifying vault inserts Ospina as the No. 2 vaulter in JUCO this year.
Samuel Puustinen made his T-Bird debut in the weight throw with a time of 17.36m. The national qualifying mark is No. 3 in junior college.
Javar Thomas triple jumped his way to a 14.74m mark to nationally qualify for indoors. The jump is ranked No. 6 in the NJCAA.
Pavashe Muzokomba was a crossover athlete for the T-Birds. He nationally qualified on the track and in the field. Muzokomba ran a 6.75 in the 60m to rank No. 7 in the NJCAA. In the long jump, he leapt 7.40m which puts him No. 4 in JUCO.
The Thunderbirds next meet will be Jan. 23-24 in College Station, Texas at the Ted Nelson Invite.
