Awusa and Pololet Star for T-Birds at Jo Meaker Classic

The New Mexico Junior College track and field teams traveled to Canyon, Texas to compete in the Jo Meaker Classic and Multi at West Texas A&M April 7-8.

The women were led by Ese Awusa, who finished the 100m hurdles with a personal-best time of 13.40. The improved national standard is No. 1 in the NJCAA. The performance earned the sophomore the NJCAA women's division USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors for the first time in her career.      

Deshana Skeete hit the national standard in the 200m with a time of 23.46. The sophomore is now ranked No. 1 in the 200m and the 400m for the NJCAA.

Ashantai Bollers ran an 11.60 national standard in the 100m. The time is currently No. 3 in NJCAA.

Tijuanique Morton improved her national mark in the 200m after finishing the race in 23.70. The time is good enough to put her at No. 4 in NJCAA for the 200m. Bollers was the third athlete to place well in the 200m. The sophomore ran a 23.95 in the event, which is No. 6 in NJCAA.  

Letlhogonolo Magoro chipped away at her 800m time with an improved qualifying standard of 2:10.75. Magoro's currently second overall in the 800m for the NJCAA. Minankolo Magassa also competed in the 800m and finished the event in 2:20.01. The national mark is No. 15 overall in the NJCAA.             

Joan Kimalel met the national qualifying standard in the 1500m with her time of 4:53.10 (NJCAA No. 5). Carolyne Kimaiyo was an improved qualifier in the 5000m, running an 18:17.98. The time ranks No. 3 in NJCAA.

Daniel Hinds improved on her national standard in the high jump with a leap of 5'5 ¾" (NJCAA No. 4).

The T-Bird women maintain the No. 1 position in Week 3's USTFCCCA NJCAA Women's Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index.

Evans Pololet was the standout for the Thunderbird men after setting a school record and improving his national standard in 800m with his 1:50.11 finish. The sophomore's time in the 800m is No. 5 in the NJCAA.

Che Saunders met the national standard in the 110mH with a time of 14.23 (NJCAA No. 5).                 

Aymane El Haddaoui nationally qualified in the 200m with a time of 21.12 (NJCAA No. 14).                 

Dyimond Walker's 47.55 improved on his previous national qualifying run in the 400m (NJCAA No. 22).

Kimarlie Stewart was an improved qualifier in the 100m running a 10.32. The sophomore ranks No. 7 in the NJCAA in the event.

The Thunderbird men are ranked No. 3 in Week 3's USTFCCCA NJCAA Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index.

"To this point we are okay, some of our athletes haven't competed in their best events yet," head coach Keith Blackwill said. "We are taking things slow trying to get back in the swing of things." 

The T-Birds have just finished a mini overhaul of their track facility in preparation for hosting the NJCAA Track and Field National Championship. The additions include adding seating, an improved warmup area, and new surfaces for the throws area. 

"It will be much nicer for the athletes to be able to have the hammer actually feel like it is part of the facility. When the hammer was outside the fence it felt like it was away from everything," Blackwill said. "The facilities improvements will also be more spectator friendly."  

NMJC track and field will host the Ross Black Open here in Hobbs, NM April 14-15. 

The running events will start Friday at 7 p.m. and field events will begin at 4 p.m. On Saturday, the running events begin at 12 p.m. with the field events starting at 10 a.m. To keep up to date on T-Bird athletic schedules and scores visit nmjcthunderbirds.com.