Vega Brothers Tie for First, T-Birds Finish Perfect Again
October 6, 2023

Vega Brothers Tie for First, T-Birds Finish Perfect Again

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The Vega twins were identical in Friday afternoon's NMJC Invitational II win as the T-Birds took the team title with a perfect score of 15 points. Lubbock Christian finished 27 points behind the T-Birds in second place with 42 points. 

German Vega and Tomas Vega came across the line in unison to place first overall at Harry McAdams Park with a time of 24:20.60. The brothers ran a significantly slower time than two weeks ago. However, this was due to the relaxed competition on the course that only featured three schools. Tomas picked up his third individual win of the season, while German won his first individual title of the season. 

Alex Keter was the third runner to finish with a time of 24:43.70. The Kapsabet, Kenya native was 27 seconds better on Friday compared to two weeks ago. Marc Pauvert made his way back onto the trails this week after missing the previous meet. Pauvert finished in fourth place with a time of 24:44.00. Paul Maurer rounded out the team score with a fifth-place finish of 25:48.20. 

Cyprien Bille earned his first top 10 finish of his career with a ninth place finish on Friday. The freshman breezed through the finish line in 27:00.50, which was 39.20 seconds quicker than what he ran in the NMJC Invitational two weeks ago. 

Freshman Wilson Navarrete did not race due to injury. The victory gives the Thunderbirds their fourth win of the season in just five meets.  

The Thunderbird men are ranked No. 1 for the first time since 2021 in the USTFCCCA NJCAA DI Men's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll (Week 2).

The T-Birds have one week to prepare for the NMJC Invitational III at Harry McAdams Park in Hobbs, NM. The meet will start at 9:45 a.m. MDT on Friday, Oct. 13.