T-Bird W-T&F Places 3rd at Nationals

The NMJC women's track & field team finished in third place Saturday, March 2 at the 2024 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Gainesville, Fla.

The T-Birds amassed 67 points to finish in the third spot behind Iowa Central CC and Barton County who shared the team title with 107 points. 

The Thunderbirds concluded Day 2 with six more individual All-Americans, two relay All-American squads, and one individual national champion.

Thrower Tania Millena Ancelmo Da Silva was crowned the national champion in the weight throw with a mark of 18.92m earning the team 10 points. The Porto Alegre, Brazil native bested Barton County's Treneese Hamilton by .19m to claim the title. Millena Ancelmo Da Silva was the lone T-Bird to win an individual national championship in Florida this week for the women's team.

NMJC assistant track & field/throws coach David Evans was elated with Millena Ancelmo Da Silva's performance. 

"Tania came in No. 1 in the weight throw and that means she had a big target on her back," Evans said. "She competed like a champion because of the hard work she put in prior to nationals. Tania threw hard and the girl from Barton County was right on her the whole way." 

The victory gave Evans his first individual indoor national champion at the junior college level.

"Nothing is guaranteed when you come to nationals," Evans said. "Everybody is 0-0 and starts from scratch, so there were a little nerves. The competition was amazing to watch and we didn't know Tania had it until Treneese Hamilton of Barton County fouled on her sixth attempt. It was an incredible moment for her and now we look forward to throwing the hammer in outdoor."

Jody Ann Mitchell came national runner-up in the 600m race Saturday afternoon. The Jamaican completed the race in 1:32.02 to finish .10 seconds behind Asia Foster. Mitchell notched eight points in the All-American performance and broke Calisha Taylor's school record by .21 seconds. 

The Thunderbird 4x800m squad finished as the national runner-up in the relay with a time of 9:15.67. Jayne Elvin, Vanessa Gallegos, Daphne Kausz, and Lisanne Schapendonk earned All-American honors and added eight points to the team total with the second-place finish. Cloud County's anchor leg pulled away down the stretch to post a facility-record time of 9:09.97.

Jumper Achol Maywin glided over the bar at 1.70m to place third in the high jump. Maywin's All-American performance in the event earned the team six points and was .03m behind the champion Gabrielle Cook of Hagerstown CC.  

Sprinter Kamaria Knight crossed the finish line in 7.57 seconds to come in third place in the 60m. Knight's All-American finish added six points to the team total. Barton County's Keliza Smith edged Knight by .20 seconds to win the race. 

Dejona Simpson placed fifth overall in the 400m with a 55.71 finish. The time earned the Jamaican All-American honors and the team five points.

The second All-American relay quartet consisted of Nandy Kihuyu, Dejona Simpson, Kamaria Knight, and Jody Ann Mitchell. The mile relay squad placed sixth with a time of 3:47.63 to earn three points. 

Hurdler Maliah Edwards ran an 8.88 in the 60mH final to earn All-American status and a point for the Thunderbirds. 

The Thunderbirds finished the national meet with with eight individual All-Americans, three relay All-American squads, and one individual national champion.

Thrower Tania Millena Ancelmo Da Silva was honored with the 2024 USTFCCCA NJCAA West Region Female Indoor Field Athlete of the Year at the athlete of the year awards ceremony on Saturday, March 2 in Gainesville, Fla.

NMJC assistant track and field/sprints coach Tabarie Henry was named the men's and women's 2024 USTFCCCA NJCAA West Region Indoor Assistant Track Coach of the Year at the same awards ceremony.

The Thunderbirds will begin the outdoor season March 15-16 in Canyon, Texas at West Texas A&M in the Spring Break Classic.