T-Birds Finish 15th at NJCAA Nationals

T-Birds Finish 15^th at NJCAA Nationals

The NMJC Thunderbird Cross Country team finished up the 2017 season at the NJCAA Championships in Fort Dodge, Iowa.  "It was not the day we were hoping for" said Coach Jeff Becker. "Our top two runners struggled with some health issues during the race and it eventually led to our number two runner not finishing." With the number two runner out the team finished 15^th out of the 42 teams.

Individually, the T-Birds brought home one NJCAA All-American (Esther Gitahi- 10^th Place) and two Coaches Association All-Americans (Cynthia Kipserem- 20^th Place and Sharon Jerono- 29^th Place). The top 15 finishers are NJCAA All-Americans, while 16^th-40^th places receive Coaches Association All-Americans. "Esther struggled, but was able to hold on for 10^th place" commented Coach Becker. He added that both Cynthia and Sharon had good meets to receive Coaches Association All-Americans. "Not only did Cynthia run a personal best this year (18:52), but she also moved up from her 75^th place finish at nationals last year. Also have an outstanding national meet was Christine Moss who moved up to finish as the teams fifth runner and ran a big personal best of 22:24.

NEXT UP: The team will take Cynthia and Sharon to the NJCAA Half Marathon in Topeka, KS on Saturday, November 18^th. This is the third time that NMJC will participate in the NJCAA half marathon.

Team Results

1. Iowa Central                                           52 points
2. Central Arizona                                      135 points
3. Cowley County (KS)                              175 points
4. Southern Idaho                                     179 points
5. Allen County (KS)                                  204 points
6. Colby (KS)                                               227 points
7. South Plains (TX)                                   288 points
8. Lansing (MI)                                           292 points
9. Vincennes (IN)                                       314 points
10. El Paso (TX)                                             326 points
11. Trinidad State (CO)                               340 points
12. Iowa Western                                        371 points
13. Butler (KS)                                              394 points
14. Macomb (MI)                                        481 points
15. New Mexico Junior College                499 points
16. Mesa (AZ)                                               506 points
17. Ranger (TX)                                            520 points
18. Hutchinson (KS)                        521 points
19. Cuyahoga (OH)                                      529 points
20. Highland (KS)                                         532 points
21. – 42- http://wayzatatiming.com/crosscountry/2017/NJCAAD1/#event1

Individual Results

10^th                 Esther Gitahi            18:24             All-American

20^th                 Cynthia Kipserem    18:52             Coaches Association All-American

29^th                 Sharon Jerono         19:07             Coaches Association All-American

238^th              Christine Moss         22:24            

280^th              Abby Butler              24:00

Full Individual Results- http://wayzatatiming.com/crosscountry/2017/NJCAAD1/#event1