Pololet Sets Two School Records, Maywin Jumps to Career-Best
February 17, 2023

Pololet Sets Two School Records, Maywin Jumps to Career-Best

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The New Mexico Junior College track and field teams competed Friday, Feb. 17 at the Matador Qualifier in Lubbock, Texas.

Evans Pololet was the star of the meet for the Thunderbirds on the men's side. The sophomore set two school records Friday evening. The first was in the mile as he ran a national qualifying time of 4.11.67. The time was second overall for the entire meet and No. 7 in the NJCAA. 

Pololet's second school record came in the 800m. The sophomore finished the race in 1:51.84, which was .18 faster than his previous best and No. 3 overall for the meet. Pololet is No. 14 in the NJCAA in the 800m.

"Coach Becker (Distance) does a fantastic job getting his event groups ready for nationals," head coach Keith Blackwill said. "Evans will need to be better at nationals, his events are some of toughest events at the national meet."

Freshman Takudzwa (Donald) Chiyangwa finished the 200m finals in first place for the Matador Qualifier with a time of 20.75. Chiyangwa is No. 2 in the NJCAA with his best finish in the 200m coming at the NM Team Open.

Tapiwanashe (Carlie) Makarawu finished the 60m finals in first place as he cruised past the line in 6.69. The freshman is currently No. 2 in the NJCAA in the 60m from his finish at the NM Team Open.'

Tomas Vega crossed the finish at the Matador Qualifier in first place in the 3000m with a time of 8:32.24. Vega sits at No. 9 in the NJCAA in the 3000m with his best time coming at the NM Team Open.

Aymane El Haddaoui finished second overall in the 400m at the Matador Qualifier with a time of 47.56. El Haddaoui is No. 11 in the 400m with his best finish happening at the Jarvis Scott Open. 

The Thunderbird men maintained the No. 2 spot in Week 5's USTFCCCA NJCAA Men's Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.

The T-Bird women were led by freshman Achol Maywin at Friday's meet in Lubbock. Maywin finished second in the high jump at the Matador Qualifier, leaping to a personal best 5'7 ¼", which improved on her national qualifying mark by 2.25 inches. Maywin is now No. 3 in the NJCAA in the high jump.

"Achol jumped well," Blackwill said. "I believe that she has the ability to be even better."

Sophomore Letlhogonolo Magoro improved on her national qualifying time by 1.02 seconds to run the 800m in 2:14.30. She is .79 behind her teammate Calisha Taylor. Magoro is No. 2 in the NJCAA in the 800m. 

Lacarthea Cooper ran a blazing time in the 200m finishing in 23.83. The freshman's improved qualifying time is .34 better than her last 200m and No. 2 in the NJCAA. Cooper finished second overall in the 200m for the entire meet.

Ashantai Bollers improved on her national mark in the 200m by the thinnest of margins, .01, to run a 24.12. The sophomore's time is good enough for No. 5 overall in the NJCAA. 

Tijuanique Morton finished the 200m with an improved qualifying time of 24.14. The sophomore's mark is No. 6 in the NJCAA and .29 seconds faster than her previous best. 

Sophomore Damaris Chewon improved on her national mark in the mile by 5.30 seconds, finishing in 5:18.72 (NJCAA No. 8). 

Dejona Simpson was an improved qualifier in the 400m Friday. Simpson finished the race in 55.51, which was .91 faster than her previous best (NJCAA No. 7).

Mickaliliah Vassell was the lone national qualifier for the T-Birds Friday night on the women's side. Vassell finished the 400m in 56.29, which sits at No. 12 in the NJCAA.

The Thunderbird women remained at the No. 1 spot in Week 5's USTFCCCA NJCAA Women's Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.

"Both the men and women are training hard this week to prepare for indoor nationals," Blackwill said. "Everything that they have done throughout the indoor season needs to be repeated on the two days of nationals, which is no easy task.

"For a national meet it's not about times and marks, it's about places. Every place in the Top 8 is worth points. If our teams continue to focus and give the effort that they have done throughout the indoor season, no matter what the teams place, we will be satisfied."

The T-Birds will compete next in the NJCAA Track and Field Indoor Nationals meet at Washburn Indoor Athletic Facility in Topeka, Kansas March 3-4.