T-Bird WXC Eager to Compete at the NJCAA XC Championships

The New Mexico Junior College women's cross country team will compete in the NJCAA DI Cross Country Championships Saturday, Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. CDT. The 5k race is hosted at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala.

"The course was really nice," women's cross country head coach Jeff Becker said. "We had heard good things about it leading up to today and I think after seeing the course it is suitable to both of our teams."

The Thunderbirds come into the meet ranked No. 2 in the country according to the USTFCCA Coaches' Poll. The T-Birds are looking to win their first cross country national championship in program history on Saturday. The women finished runner-up in last year's cross country championship in Tallahassee, Fla.

NMJC has produced five victories and one runner-up finish at the Lori Fitzgerald Memorial this season. The Thunderbirds last meet ended with an individual Region V title by Damaris Chewon (17:59.40). The team also won the Region V Championship after defeating El Paso by 38 points.

Damaris Chewon will be the top performer on the women's side at John Hunt Park. Chewon has won four races so far this season. Chewon was named the 2023 Women's Cross Country West Region Athlete of the Year on Friday, Nov. 10. Last season, Chewon finished in third place at the 2023 NJCAA Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Fla. The time of 18:13.00 was the top finish by a freshman at the meet.

Jayne Elvin will slot in as the No. 2 runner for NMJC. Elvin has one win this season and three straight runner-up finishes behind her teammate Chewon.

Vanessa Gallegos has stepped up big for the T-Birds this season. Gallegos is in great form as she enters nationals with four straight third-place finishes. Gallegos finished in 35th place at last season's nationals with a time of 19:52.70.

Carolyne Kimaiyo has pushed through knee issues in her second season with the Thunderbirds. Kimaiyo finished in 29th place at nationals last year with a time of 19:41.20.

Freshmen Lisanne Schapendonk and Jody Ann Mitchell will make their national championship debut this weekend along with sophomore Morgan Waltmire. The Roswell, NM native traveled with the team to nationals in 2022 but did not race in the event.

"On the ladies side, we have been led by Damaris almost all year long," Becker said. "I feel like Jayne and then Vanessa will all be right up there. Carolyne will be up there as well as Lisanne, who has been strong for us toward the end of the year as the No. 5 runner."

"Jody Ann Mitchell has really improved as our No. 6 runner since the beginning of the year," Becker said. "The No. 7 spot is very competitive for us this year on the women's side, which is a good problem to have for our team. We will go with Morgan in tomorrow's race as our final runner."

The Thunderbirds have seven runners participating in the meet. Teams are only allowed to compete with seven runners at nationals and just five runners will count toward your team score.

The cross country national championship has eluded Coach Becker throughout his coaching career. This year he hopes to end that streak.

"It's tough to win a national championship," Becker said. "In years past, I've thought that we have had great teams here at New Mexico Junior College that have had the chance to win. It's not easy to win a national championship in any sport and so I think that it's gonna take us doing what we have done all year, but also it takes a little luck for everyone to have the right day. We are prepared but I still believe that it will take a few things to go our direction to come home with a trophy."

Becker swept the men's and women's West Region Coach of the Year awards on Friday night. This marks back-to-back years Coach Becker has won the women's West Region Coach of the Year.

The T-Birds will compete for a national title Saturday, Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. CDT in Huntsville, Ala. at John Hunt Park. The race will not be streamed. There will be live timing, which will be located here. 

"I think we have a really good shot at performing well tomorrow," Becker said. "There's a handful of good teams but I think we are just as good as any of them. If we go out and run like we have all year, we should be successful."