Carlie Makarawu Breaks NJCAA National Record

The NMJC men's track and field team finished with 12 national qualifying marks, four new school records, and a new NJCAA national record on Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Stan Scott Memorial in Lubbock, Texas.

Sprinter Tapiwanashe (Carlie) Makarawu set the new NJCAA national record in the 200m with a time of 20.29. The previous NJCAA national record in the 200m was set by Kenny Bednarek of Indian Hills Community College with a time of 20.43 in 2019.

The time is also currently the world lead for the 200m so far in 2024. Makarawu eclipses the previous school record of 20.47 that he set in January of 2023 and is now qualified for nationals in the 200m.  

Takudzwa (Donald) Chiyangwa ran a 46.10 in the 400m to break his previous school record by .02 seconds that he set in March of 2023. The national qualifying time is currently No. 1 in the NJCAA for the event.  

Dyimond Walker was the third member of the men's track and field team to set a school record. The Kansas City, Mo native ran a school-record 1:10.15 in the 600y in Albuquerque. Walker ran a previous personal-best time of 1:11.02 in February of 2023.

Tomas Vega set the school record in the 3000m with a time of 8:24.92. The time is currently second in the NJCAA for the 3000m. German Vega held the record prior with a time of 8:27.04 that was set in March of last year.

Kimarlie Stewart qualified for nationals in the 60m with a time of 6.74. Amir Williams also was a national qualifier with his run of 8.08 in the 60mH.

Aymane El Haddaoui recorded a national qualifying time in the 400m crossing the line in 47.19. The time is currently No. 2 in the NJCAA and an indoor personal record by .21 seconds for El Haddaoui.  

Alex Keter nationally qualified in the 100m with a time of 2:32.60. Tomas Vega was not far behind Keter finishing in 2:32.77 and qualifying for nationals.

German Vega was a national qualifier alongside his brother Tomas in the 3000m as he crossed the line in 8:26.32. The time puts him at No. 3 in the NJCAA for the race. 

Johnathon Rodgers triple jumped his way to a length of 14.88m. The jump was a national qualifier and inserted him into the No. 5 spot in the NJCAA for the event. Braden Shaw earned his spot to nationals with a vault of 4.29m.

The T-Birds have the fastest 4x400m relay team in the NJCAA so far this season after posting a national qualifying time of 3:08.81 (El Haddaoui- 48.06, Walker- 47.57, Pahuwa- 47.86, Chiyangwa- 45.33).

Tapiwanashe (Carlie) Makarawu was named the USTFCCCA's NJCAA National Athlete of the Week for his record-setting performance over the weekend in Lubbock, Texas. Hear Makarawu speak about his performance by clicking this link.

The Thunderbirds next meet will be in Albuquerque, NM at the MLK Invite inside the Albuquerque Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 20.