Tomas Vega Breaks 10,000m School Record

The NMJC men's track and field team had nine new national qualifiers, two improved qualifiers, and one new school record in Canyon, Texas at the Jo Meaker Classic and Multi. 

Tomas Vega led the way for the T-Birds with a school record in the 10,000m after finishing the race in 29:53.16. Tomas crossed the line nearly the same time as his brother German Vega who also nationally qualified in the 10,000m race with his time of 29:53.21. 

The Argentinians paced each other the entire way with Tomas breaking German's 2023 10,000m record of 30:58.92 by 1:05.76. 

The brothers are currently ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the race following their times being adjusted to 29:20.73 and 29:20.78 due to altitude. Wilson Navarrete joined the Vega brothers as the third T-Bird to nationally qualify in the 10,000m as he crossed the line in 32:11.45.

The T-Birds had three separate athletes nationally qualify for the 200m, two meet the standard in the 100m, and one improve on their national standard in the 100m at the Jo Meaker Classic and Multi.

Shamarie Roberts had the best performance of his career thus far nationally qualifying in the 200m and the 100m. Roberts has run a non-wind legal time in the 100m at the Masked Rider in March. The freshman sprinter ran 10.31 in the 100m and a 21.08 in the 200m to qualify for nationals in Monroe, LA. The 100m time is ranked No. 11 in the NJCAA for the event.   

Chevoney Reid was an improved qualifier by .09 seconds in the 100m with a time of 10.38. Reid went on to nationally qualify in the 200m after posting a time of 20.76. The time is No. 7 in the NJCAA for the event. 

Ezekiel Newton finished the 100m in 10.43 to nationally qualify in the event. The freshman ran a non-wind legal time of 10.49 at the Masked Rider that would have qualified him earlier this spring. In the 200m, Newton ran a 21.02 to meet the standard.

Hurdler Amir Williams was an improved qualifier in the 110mH by .01 seconds. The 14.02 time is ranked No. 6 in the NJCAA for the event. Dyimond Walker met the national standard in the 400m with a 47.77 finish.

The T-Birds are ranked No. 2 in Week 3's NJCAA DI Men's Outdoor Track & Field Rating Index.

The Thunderbirds next meet will be the John Jacobs Invitational in Norman, Okla., April 12-13.