T-Bird (WXC) Hosts 1st Home Meet

The Thunderbird women's cross country team finished runner-up at the NMJC Invitational Friday, Sept. 20 at Harry McAdams Park.

Texas Tech finished in first place Friday morning scoring 18 points, while NMJC recorded 40 points as the second place finishers at their first home meet of the year.

The race got off to a bizarre start. The cross country rules state that the first 50 meters must be completed without a runner falling or the race will be recalled. A runner unfortunately succumbed to that situation and subsequently the race was recalled after a few starting gun shots were made following the fall. 

The race went on without a hitch on the second go-around with the 5k feeling a little like a 5.1k. Freshman Amal Kachouri regained her spot as the top T-Bird runner with her third-place finish of 18:34.40. 

Ines Mrabet was the second runner across the line finishing in a tie for sixth place at 19:11.60. Jayne Elvin slotted into the third spot in the lineup with her eighth-place finish of 19:19.90. 

Francesca Alvarado was the final Top-10 finisher coming in at 19:40.20. Hadil Chiha worked her way into the scoring lineup for the first time this year Friday. Chiha placed 15th in the race with a time of 20:12.30. 

Freshman Lisel Ndlovu finished in 18th place with a time of 20:27.20. Sophomore Daphne Kausz placed 19th with a finish of 20:45.20. Jody Ann Mitchell was a spot behind in 20th place at 21:03.80. Tyfane Martins crossed the finish line in 21:23.90 to place 21st. Emilly Silva overcame a brief fall in the race to finish in 26th place with a time of 22:02.20.

The Thunderbirds next meet is the NMJC Invitational II on Friday, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. MDT in Hobbs, NM at Harry McAdams Park.