Women's XC Finishes Runner-up in Las Cruces

The New Mexico Junior College women's cross country team were runner-ups this week at the Lori Fitzgerald Memorial Open 5k. The T-Birds finished with 63 points, which was 41 points behind the winner New Mexico State.

Sophomore Damaris Chewon led the Thunderbirds Saturday morning with a sixth-place finish 6th Place (18:39.24). Chewon had a tough start to the day when her shoe was knocked off at the beginning of the race by her teammate Carolyne Kimaiyo. She was able to recover and record the 10th top-10 finish of her career.

Freshman Jayne Elvin finished in 10th place with a time of 19:01.60 in her second race of the season.

Carolyne Kimaiyo was the third member across the line for the Thunderbirds. The sophomore finished in 16th place with a time of 19:29.22.

Sophomore Vanessa Gallegos recorded a 20th place finish in Las Cruces (19:45.03). Freshman Lisanne Schapendonk rounded out the team scoring with a 27th place-finish (20:29.06).

Francesca Alvarado came in 31st place with a time of 20:42.67. Morgan Waltmire was a few spots behind her teammate in 35th place (20:54.16). Freshman Tyfane Martins finished 42nd with a time of 21:22.55. Daphne Kausz was the final competitor for the T-Birds in 49th place (23:17.38).

Damaris Chewon was named the USTFCCCA NJCAA DI National Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week on Tuesday, Sept. 12 for her performance during the first three weeks of competition.

The T-Birds next race will be Friday, Sept. 15 at 9 a.m. CDT in Lubbock, Texas at the LCU Cross Country Course.