T-Birds XC Teams Win at South Plains, Vega Named NJCAA POTW
September 30, 2022

T-Birds XC Teams Win at South Plains, Vega Named NJCAA POTW

Photos

The New Mexico Junior College men's and women's cross country teams finished first in their races Friday afternoon in Levelland, Texas at the South Plains Invitational.

The Thunderbird women started off strong in the 5k race with NMJC having five runners finish in the top seven.

Freshman Damaris Chewon claimed first place by over a minute with a time of 17:53.30. The run was a career-best for the Kapsabet, Kenya native who beat her previous meet time by 39 seconds. 

Chewon's 5k finish now puts her No. 4 all-time for the T-Birds women's cross country team.

Sophomore runner Letlhogonolo Magoro finished in second place posting a time of 18:54.60, Joan Kimalel came in third place (19:16.20), Daisy Jerop placed fifth overall (19:31.20), and Minankolo Magassa rounded out the team scoring in seventh place with a time of 19:53.90.

The Thunderbird women finished with a team score of 18 points, 34 points ahead of runner-up Angelo State.  

 

The T-Bird men breezed past the competition Friday afternoon with the team placing five runners in the top six.

Freshman German Vega demolished the field in the men's 8k with a time of 23:34.10. The Argentinian smashed the school record by 37.9 seconds, a record he previously set one week prior at the NMJC Invitational. 

Freshman Tomas Vega posted a second-place finish of 24:09.50, 35.40 seconds behind his brother German, but good enough to move him into second all-time in the 8k for men's cross country.

Sophomore Evans Pololet placed fourth in the race with a time of 24:47.30, Chris Korir came in fifth place running a time of 24:49.70, and Alex Keter rounded out the team scoring in sixth place running for a time of 25:32.60.

The Thunderbird men finished with a team score of 15 points, 37 points in front of runner-up Amarillo College.

Head coach Jeff Becker said he is looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead in the next few weeks.

"Both the men's and women's teams ran well again at South Plains," Becker said. "Together we have won the first three meets of the season, but we need to keep working hard as the tougher meets are coming up."

"Individually, German and Damaris continue to win. They have won each meet so far this year," Becker said. "I am very pleased with how they both have progressed since arriving on campus. In winning at South Plains, German broke his school record from the week before, this time going under 24 minutes."

The Thunderbird women were ranked No. 3 overall in the Cross Country USTFCCCA NJCAA DI Coaches Poll. The T-Bird men also came in ranked No. 3 overall in the Cross Country USTFCCCA NJCAA DI Coaches Poll on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

"Both teams moved up in the second rankings of year and sit at No. 3 right now," Becker said. "Rankings are good and fun to keep track of, but what matters is the place at the end of the year and we know we must continue to work hard to reach our goal."

Freshman runner German Vega was named NJCAA Cross Country DI Men's Runner of the Week with his performance last week at the NMJC Invitational.

The Thunderbirds will travel Friday, Oct. 7 to Lubbock, Texas to compete at the Lubbock Christian Invitational. The T-Bird men will run at 9 a.m. CDT in the 8k and the women will follow at 9:35 a.m. CDT in the 5k.  

For the livestream link of the Lubbock Christian Invitational click here

For the livestats link of the Lubbock Christian Invitational click here