NMJC runner wins again at regionals

NMJC runner wins again at regionals

NEWS-SUN STAFF REPORT
Tuedsay October 29, 2019

The New Mexico Junior College women's cross country team took second in the Region Championships on Saturday, scoring 41 points.

The Lady Thunderbirds finished six points behind South Plains College (35). El Paso Community College was third with 51 points while Ranger College was a distant fourth with 122 points was fourth and North Central Texas College (124 points) placed fifth. Odessa College finished sixth with 160 points.

Flomena Asekol continued her season-long dominance with another first place finish. The freshmen turned in a time of 18 minutes and 11 seconds to win the Region Championship as well as being named Conference Champion. Montserret Rios (19:53) was eighth while Gladys Koech (20:03) was ninth. Rios and Koech were both named All-Region and All-Conference.

Britnie Dixon was 11th overall with a time of 20:31 while Abigael Murgor (20:36) was 12th and Doris Kitoney (20:47) was 13th.

"This is the best we have ran as a team" NMJC coach Jeff Becker said. "I am very proud of these ladies we finished all six runners in the top 13 and came very close to beating a very good South Plains team."

The NMJC men also had a good finish, taking third overall with 67 points. El Paso Community College was first with 20 points while Ranger College (58) was second. Western Texas College finished fourth with 81 points while North Central Texas College was a distant fifth with 130 points. Odessa College took sixth with 169 points.

Baptiste Derpil-Dupre led the T-Birds with a time of 27:17 to finish seventh overall while Victor Kibet (27:35) was eighth. Derpil-Dupre and Kibet were both named All-Region and All-Conference. Lloyd Frilot was the only other T-Bird in the top 20 as he placed 14th with a time of 28:25.

Voctor Saldana ran a 29:09 to take 23rd while Elir Ortiz was 27th with a time of 29:42. Devis Cheruiyot turned in a 30:20 to take 32nd and Patrick Colborn finished in 30:37 to place 37th.

Next up for NMJC is the national meet on November 9 in Albuquerque.