T-Bird (M-T&F) Sets 2 School Records at Corky Classic

The NMJC men's track and field team began the 2025 indoor season Jan. 17-18 at the Corky Classic in Lubbock, Texas.

The men finished the meet with two new school records and 10 national qualifying standards.

David Nyamufarira broke former T-Bird and Olympian Carlie Makarawu's school record in 60m by .06 seconds with a time of 6.57. The national qualifying finish set a new Zimbabwe national record in the 60m and was .02 seconds off the NJCAA record. The freshman sprinter is currently ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA by .08 seconds and is No. 5 collegiately.  

Jumper Mawali Osunniyi cleared 2.17m Saturday afternoon to break Jackson Kinney's 2020 high jump school record of 1.95m. The national qualifying jump moves the UConn transfer to No. 1 in the NJCAA by .12m.

Bovel McPherson competed in his first indoor meet of his career Saturday after missing his first indoor season with a knee injury in 2024. McPherson ran a 46.76 in the 400m to secure his spot as the No. 1 runner in the NJCAA and qualify for nationals. The Chudleigh Manchester, Jamaica native is .64 seconds in front of No. 2 in the NJCAA.

Samuel Ospina cleared 4.76m in the pole vault Friday afternoon. The national qualifying vault set Ospina as the No. 1 vaulter in JUCO following his first event with the T-Birds.    

Freshman Benjamin Nsiah finished his first race in a Thunderbird uniform with a 47.64 national qualifying run in the 400m. Nsiah's time put him in the No. 3 spot in the NJCAA for the event.

Johnathon Rodgers punched his ticket to nationals in the long jump with a leap of 7.20m. The jump has Rodgers ranked No. 4 in the JUCO for the event.      

Ezekiel Newton was one of three runners to nationally qualify in the 60m. Newton ran a 6.73 in the event to sit No. 7 in the NJCAA. Shamarie Roberts was the final national qualifier in the 60m coming across the line in 6.80 seconds. Roberts' time is ranked No. 15 in junior college. 

Freshman Erwan Darrieulat met the national qualifying standard running a 1:55.55 in the 800m. The time was good enough for No. 7 in the NJCAA for the event. Thrower Josh Sweetnam met the national qualifying mark in the shot put with a toss of 15.93m. The throw has Sweetnam No. 7 in the NJCAA. 

The Thunderbirds next meet will be Jan. 24-25 in Albuquerque, NM at the MLK Invite inside the Albuquerque Convention Center.