Mrahi Runs PB, T-Birds Win 2nd Meet this Season.

Mohammed Mrahi won his third meet of his career on Friday, Sept. 26 at the NMJC Dr. Steve McCleery Invitational 8k.

Lynda McCleery, the wife of the late Dr. Steve McCleery, was the honorary starter for the meet shooting the gun to mark the start of the men's race.

"It just worked out to be a perfect day," NMJC men's cross country head coach Jeff Becker said. "Lynda, Dr. McCleery's wife, came out there as a starter and that was just a such a great honor to have her there and just be able to celebrate what Dr. McCleery has done for NMJC and everything. I thought it was perfect day."

The Thunderbirds won the meet with 26 points, Ranger was second with 65 points, and Western Texas was third at 79 points. The men's team has won two meets this year. 

Mrahi ran a personal-best 23:39.90 to finish in first place at the meet by 19 seconds. The sophomore ran 35 seconds faster than in 2024 when his season was cut short due to injury. The performance by the Moroccan earned himself the USTFCCCA NJCAA National Athlete of the Week.

"I was really excited for Mohammed, and I'm excited for when any of them go out and run their best and give their best effort," Coach Becker said. "It's been kind of a long time waiting for Mohammed. It was good to see him come and run a personal best and run an outstanding time. He beat a lot of good runners in that race. It was good for him to build confidence, and then hopefully we'll be able to continue that as we go."

Sophomore Brian Cheruiyot was fourth in the race finishing with a 24:23.90. The Kenyan was 37 seconds faster than what he ran in 2024 at the same race. Emmanuel Kimaiyo was one spot behind Cheruiyot in fifth place running a 24:56.60. The sophomore raced 27 seconds quicker than in 2024.

Ronald Jecky was the fourth member of the team score. Jecky finished in seventh place with a time of 25:45.30. Alexandre Fablet rounded out the team score in ninth place running a 25:55.80 in his first race for the T-Birds in cross country.

"Whether Alex will admit it or not he was excited to be out there for his first cross country race," Becker said. "Obviously, I would have liked to have that sooner, but just with the injuries coming off the summer, it was better to wait. I was really impressed with the patience he had throughout the race."

Freshman Elmehdi Bouchouata finished 12th with a 26:38.80. Israel Takap was 18th with a finish of 26:59.30. Sophomore Nathan Bonavida placed 23rd with a time of 27:42.90. The final runner out on the course for NMJC was Rayane Courtois who was 33rd with a time of 28:33.80.   

Killian LeBourhis and Erwan Darrieulat did not race while Addiso Bitew dropped out during the race due to an injury.

The Thunderbirds dropped one spot to fourth place in the USTFCCCA Week 2 Coaches Poll.

The T-Birds travel down the road to the inaugural ENMU Inn of the Mountain Gods Open Friday, Oct. 3 at 11:45 a.m. MDT in Ruidoso, NM.