T-Bird (WXC) Set to Compete at 2024 NJCAA XC Championships
The NMJC women's cross country team competes at the 2024 NJCAA Cross Country Championships at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2:30 p.m. EST.
In coaching news, NMJC cross country head coach Jeff Becker was named the USTFCCCA West Region Women's Coach of the Year on Friday, Nov. 8. This marks three years straight Coach Becker has won the award.
"It's exciting but really that award reflects what the team has done and what they've accomplished throughout the year," NMJC women's cross country head coach Jeff Becker said. "I don't think it's anything special that I've done. It's just the success with what we've had with the group. But it's still a very nice honor to get recognized by your peers once again."
The Thunderbirds have finished cross country national runner-up in back-to-back seasons under the guidance of Becker. The T-Birds are ranked No. 6 in the final USTFCCCA rankings before nationals.
"I think our ladies truly believe that they're better than sixth in the country," Coach Becker said. "We've set that kind of as our No. 1 goal to go out and prove people wrong and that we are better than that. So, it's a great motivator for them, they're excited about it. They truly believe they're the best team and I'm right there with them, so I think it's definitely going to motivate them and push them as they go through the race."
The T-Birds will trot out the same seven-person squad that won the 2024 Region V Championship. Teams are only allowed to compete with seven runners at nationals and just five runners will count toward NMJC's team score.
Freshman Amal Kachouri leads the team after finishing runner-up at the Region V Championship with a personal-record time of 18:19.50. The time is the seventh-fastest finish on the T-Bird all-time 5k list.
Ines Mrabet is the No. 2 runner for the T-Birds. Mrabet finished in sixth place at the regional championship with a time of 19:11.70.
Jayne Elvin slots in as the No. 3 runner after placing seventh at regionals with a time of 19:15.10. Elvin finished in 13th place at the 2023 Cross Country Championships. Last year in Huntsville, Ala. she ran a career-best 18:22.60 at nationals to earn herself NJCAA All-American and USTFCCCA All-American honors.
"In order for us to be successful we have to do well with our top three runners," Coach Becker said. "We really have to close up the gap between Amal at No. 1 and then whoever's our No. 2, whether it's Ines or whether it's Jayne, we need that gap to be closed up. We cannot have the gap we had at regionals in time. It wasn't a big gap in places at regionals, but now, when you add a lot more teams, if we have that big of a gap, we're in trouble. So, I think if those two run well at No. 2 and No. 3 we've got a great shot to do well."
Sophomore transfer Emilly Silva comes in at No. 4 for the T-Birds following her 10th place season-best performance at regionals that saw her cross the finish line in 19:24.00.
Hadil Chiha rounds out the top five for NMJC. Chiha's season-best 19:46.80 earned her 12th place at the Region V Championship.
"We talked about that as a group. I told them that we needed to move No. 2 and No. 3 up closer to one, but I said we can't lose that gap between No. 3 and then our No. 4 and No. 5," Coach Becker said. "So obviously if No. 2 and No. 3 move up, that means four and five need to move up. Emily and Hadil had personal bests at regionals, but I think that's just the start of it. I really think that both those two young ladies are going to have great races tomorrow, and that they're going to run another personal best."
The two runners outside the top five in Ndlovu and Alvarado have every ability to move their way into the team score when the gun goes off Saturday afternoon.
Freshman Lisel Ndlovu last race saw her place 15th with a time of 19:57.10.
Francesca Alvarado is the final runner in the lineup for the T-Birds. The Edinburg, Texas native placed 21st place at regionals with a time of 20:27.30. The sophomore was a member of the 2023 squad but did not race at nationals last season.
"So, it's a good advantage that we have over some teams where our six and seven could either beat or be better than our four and five. I think with both of those young ladies, they just need to be confident in themselves and if they do that, we're going to have a great day."
The T-Birds have been given a unique mindset from Coach Becker when it comes to competing in a large crowd of thousands for the first time this season when hordes of fans descend on Pole Green Park.
"The number of people in the race can kind of bother them a little bit, especially with freshmen," Coach Becker said. "I've always told them to think of it as almost two different races in the fact that we have our race with the top 80 or 90 runners that we're used to running so just try to think of it that way."
"Where we're at on the starting line we could get squeezed if we don't get into the position we want, but they're aware of that so we'll be ready," Coach Becker said. "So, it's about kind of thinking about it as two separate races. Eliminate some of those people in the back, we're only racing the top 50 or 60 runners so that seems to kind of lock them in and calm their nerves a little bit."
The T-Birds will compete for a national title Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2:30 p.m. EST in Richmond, VA. at Pole Green Park. The race will be streamed on the NJCAA Network free of charge. There will also be live timing, which can be located here.
