T-Bird (W-T&F) Qualifies 15 at Masked Rider

The T-Bird women's track & field team competed at the Masked Rider Open in Lubbock, Texas on Thursday, March 26.

The Thunderbirds had 15 new individual national qualifiers, two improved qualifiers, and two relay national qualifiers.  

Felicia Awudi and Tuwana McLean qualified for nationals in the 100m at Texas Tech this week. Awudi ran an 11.67 and McLean finished with an 11.69 in the 100m dash.  

Sophomore Nalicia Glen reached the national standard in the 200m with a time of 24.01. Freshman Motlatsi Rante had a productive day in the 400m with a time of 55.40 to qualify for outdoor nationals.

Lindsey Lopes is back on the track after not competing during the indoor season. The sophomore qualified for nationals in the 800m after recording a 2:18.28 in her first day of action.  

Fatima Chefaig was a 100mH national qualifier in Lubbock with a time of 14.37. Charissa December ran well in her outdoor debut meeting the national standard in the 400mH with a 59.81 run.

Distance runner Ines Mrabet finished the 5000m in 18:25.72 to qualify for nationals.  

Now over to the field side. 

Jastin Guzman and Sofia Mosquera Rodriquez met the national standard in both the long jump and the triple jump at the Masked Rider Open. Guzman qualified in the long jump with a 5.79m mark and a 12.14m leap in the triple. Rodriquez jumped 5.70m in the long jump and 12.14m in the triple jump.                             

Tiana Petrova looks to defend her outdoor high jump title in 2026. The sophomore nationally qualified in the event with a clearance of 1.70m. 

Freshman Tatiana Bedoya will head to nationals in the pole vault after clearing 3.68m this week. 

Gabriella Tcheukam was a national qualifier in the discus with a 45.11m throw. Athilia Pryce improved on her previous national mark in the discus by .43m with a throw of 43.70m. 

Alejandra Sanchez was the only other improved qualifier in the javelin with a throw of 40.36m. The throw was 1.98m further than her previous best.     

The 4x100m relay team of Nalicia Glen, Felicia Awudi, Tuwana McLean, and Gabriela Anahi Suarez ran a 45.28 to qualify for nationals in the event. The time is No. 1 in the NJCAA. 

Mile relayers Charissa December, Tuwana McLean, Gabriela Anahi Suarez, and Motlatsi Rante finished the 4x400m in 3:40.82 to eclipse the national standard in the event. The finish is also No. 1 in the NJCAA.  

The T-Birds next meet is Friday, April 3 in Levelland, Texas at the SPC Alumni Elite Invite.