Cooper, Daniel have Big Days for the T-Birds at UNM

The New Mexico Junior College track and field teams competed at the UNM Collegiate Classic in Albuquerque, NM Feb. 3-4.

The women were led by Lacarthea Cooper in the 400m with a national mark of 54.90. Cooper also improved on her national standard in the 200m with a time of 24.17. The freshman is No. 2 in the NJCAA in both events behind her teammate Deshana Skeete.   

Dejona Simpson made the national standard finishing the 400m in 56.42 (NJCAA No. 8).

Aaliyah Lindsay improved her national qualifying standard with a leap of 39'1 ¾" in the triple jump. The sophomore is No. 3 in the NJCAA with that mark.

Distance runner Joan Kimalel finished the mile in 5:24.30 to eclipse the national qualifying standard for the race. The sophomore is No. 8 in the NJCAA in the event.

Daisy Jerop nationally qualified in the 3000m with a time of 11:01.62, enough to rank No. 9 in the NJCAA.

The Thunderbird women remained at the No. 1 spot in Week 3's USTFCCCA NJCAA Women's Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.

The men shined at the meet with three school records falling during the UNM Collegiate Classic.

Sophomore Kelsey Daniel had a fantastic week for the T-Birds breaking the school record in the long jump (26'2 ¾" / 7.99m) and the triple jump (52'7 ½"). The Trinidad and Tobago native is also No. 1 in the NJCAA in both events.

Daniel broke the indoor long jump Trinidad and Tobago national record set by Wendell Williams back in 1999 (7.89m).  

Kelsey was honored on Tuesday as the NJCAA men's division USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week for his performance in Albuquerque over the weekend. This is the third straight week a T-Bird has won the award.

"Kelsey had a great weekend. He was able to get a personal best in two events, anytime that happens it's a great meet," head coach Keith Blackwill said. "Last weekend was a large meet with some major Division I schools, University of Arkansas, University of Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, and he held his own with all of them. We have to be happy with that."

Tapiwanashe (Carlie) Makarawu set the third school record of the meet for the Thunderbirds with a national mark of 6.64 in the 60m. The freshman is now No. 1 in the NJCAA in both the 60m and the 200m (20.47). 

Dyimond Walker nationally qualified in the 400m with a time of 48.31 (No. 18 NJCAA).

Khybah Dawson is No. 3 in the NJCAA in the long jump after improving his national mark with a jump of 24'8 ½". Dhia Gaaloul improved his national standard in the triple jump with a leap of 46'11 ¾" (NJCAA No. 13).   

The Thunderbird men maintained the No. 2 spot in Week 3's USTFCCCA NJCAA Men's Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.

Coach Blackwill was pleased with the effort he saw from both squads at the Collegiate Classic as they ready for indoor nationals in the coming weeks.

"We have just over 3 weeks until indoor nationals, both teams are progressing well with each meet," Blackwill said. "We just need to keep working hard and improving."   

The T-Birds will compete next in the Jarvis Scott Open in Lubbock, Texas Feb. 10-11.