NMJC (MXC) Prepares for 2024 NJCAA XC Championships

The NMJC men's cross country team competes at the 2024 NJCAA Cross Country Championships at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 3:30 p.m. EST.

The T-Birds will only have one change in the lineup compared to regionals with Romain Gireme subbing in for Cyrus Kimaiyo. Teams are only allowed to compete with seven runners at nationals and just five runners will count toward NMJC's team score.

The Thunderbirds hope to improve on their 2023 performance that saw them finish in fourth place. The Thunderbirds are ranked No. 6 in the final USTFCCCA rankings before nationals. 

The T-Birds will be without top runner Mohammed Mrahi once again this week so the No. 1 spot in the lineup will be freshman Killian LeBourhis for the third straight meet. LeBourhis's sixth-place finish of 24:15.80 was the best time he has run since his arrival at NMJC. 

Freshman Brian Cheruiyot is the No. 2 runner in the lineup for NMJC. Cheruiyot came in 10th place at the regional meet with a personal-best time of 24:26.40. 

Paul Maurer looks to make a splash in his second appearance at the 2024 NJCAA Cross Country Championships. Maurer's 13th-place finish of 24:37.20 at the Region V Championship was a career best for the sophomore. Maurer finished in 64th place with a time of 26:14.80 at the 2023 national championships. 

"The men in general are young. We don't have a lot of experience there to fall back on," men's cross country head coach Jeff Becker said. "The top three are a key for us. I kind of went over it a little bit with the men as far as where our top three and how they are running. If you look at the times they were running on our home course compared to when we came to Richmond's nationals here in 2021, those top three could be just at or better than our guys that were our top runners in 2021. I think that gave them some confidence to go after it. But we're going to need those three to be up towards the top in order for us to be successful."

No. 4 runner Emmanuel Kimaiyo was 16th overall at regionals coming across the finish line in 25:23.00. 

Cyprien Bille will round out the top 5 for the T-Birds on the men's side. Bille's 28th-place finish of 26:15.90 at regionals is a vast improvement from what we saw in 2023. The sophomore ran a 27:13.40 to place 111th overall in the 2023 national championship.   

The two runners outside the top five look to move into the team scoring aspect of the lineup with a career-best day.

Iseral Takap is the sixth runner for NMJC in the lineup following his 30th-place performance at regionals where he ran a 26:29.70.  

Freshman Romain Gireme is back from injury and will insert himself into the final spot in the lineup. Gireme last raced Oct. 11 at the NMJC Invitational III where ran a 26.29.50. 

"So, we need Emmanuel and Cyprien to step up. Basically that is what it comes down to," Coach Becker said. "Emmanuel has shown some signs that he could insert himself as a secure No. 4 for us, but he's had some tightness in his legs and some different things that he's worked through, but I think he's ready to go for tomorrow. So, I look for him to be up in there."

"Roma is coming off an injury. He's got the potential to be in there, but we need somebody there to step into these No. 4 and No. 5 spots," Coach Becker said. "Cyp has an opportunity to do it. He's been here at the nationals before, so he's got a little bit of experience, and then we'll see. Israel's been kind of consistent. But you know, anything can happen. It's nationals, and they're going to go after it."

The T-Birds compete in the NJCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 3:30 p.m. EST in Richmond, VA. at Pole Green Park. The race will be streamed on the NJCAA Network free of charge. There will also be live timing, which can be located here.