December Sets New National Record, Bifa Breaks Oldest School Record

The Thunderbird track & field team competed at the Jo Meaker Classic & Multi in Canyon, Texas on April 9-10.

The T-Birds had 10 new individual national qualifiers, seven improved qualifiers, and one improved relay qualifier.

Yididiya Bifa broke the oldest school record at NMJC on Friday with her time of 4:22.47 in the 1500m. The previous record of 4:27.29 was set by Caroline Jepleting in 2009. The improved qualifying time by Bifa was 5.94 seconds faster than her last race and moves her into the No. 1 spot in the NJCAA for the event.

Bifa made her outdoor 800m debut with an impressive 2:09.61. The national standard vaulted her to No. 2 in the NJCAA. Her teammate Amal Kachouri ran in the same race, recording a 2:10.12 to reach the national standard. The sophomore is ranked No. 3 in JUCO for the event via her indoor time.   

Charissa December set the Guyanese national record in the 400mH with a time of 57.84. December was an improved qualifier by .10 seconds and maintains the No. 1 spot in the NJCAA rankings with a time of 23.16. 

December was also an improved qualifier in the 100mH with a time of 14.04. The finish is .31 seconds quicker than her previous best and is No. 10 in the NJCAA.  

Gabriela Anahi Suarez nationally qualified for the outdoor 200m with a time of 23.16. The finish is ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA for the event. 

Distance runner Ines Mrabet ran a 37:04.90 to nationally qualify in the 10,000m. She sits No. 2 in the NJCAA for the event.  

Fatima Chefaig competed in the heptathlon this week scoring 4236 points to rank No. 2 in the NJCAA for the event.

Nalicia Glen ran an 11.53 in the 100m to nationally qualify this week. The sophomore is No. 5 in the NJCAA for the 100m. Glen registered a 23.82 in the 200m in the same weekend, improving on her previous standard by .19 seconds. Glen is No. 12 in the NJCAA for the event.  

Freshman Felicia Awudi improved by .02 seconds on her national standard in the 100m with a time of 11.65 in the 100m. She is No. 9 in the NJCAA for the event. Gabriela Anahi Suarez was the third runner to make noise in the 100m. The sophomore nationally qualified with a time of 11.66 to rank No. 10 in the NJCAA for the event.   

Tuwana McLean was a national qualifier in both the 200m and 400m this weekend. McLean ran a 23.91 in the 200m to rank No. 13 in the NJCAA. She was also No. 13 in the NJCAA in the 400m with a time of 55.16.  

Sophomore Hadil Chiha surpassed the national standard in the steeplechase with a time of 11:56.10. The finish is No. 9 in the NJCAA for the event.  

Jumper Sofia Mosquera Rodriquez notched improved qualifier status in the long jump with a leap of 5.86m. She is now No. 14 in JUCO.

Gabriella Tcheukam improved on her previous national standard by a massive 4.37m in the hammer throw with her mark of 48.87m. The throw is ranked No. 9 in the NJCAA for the event. 

The 4x100m relay squad of Felicia Awudi, Nalicia Glen, Tuwana McLean, and Gabriela Anahi Suarez improved on their last qualifying time by .03 seconds to record a finish of 45.25. 

Yididiya Bifa earned USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week for her performance in Canyon. 

The Thunderbirds move up to the No. 1 spot in the USTFCCCA Track & Field Women's Outdoor Rating Index.   

The T-Birds next meet is Friday, April 24 in Albuquerque, NM at the Don Kirby Twilight.