NMJC (M-T&F) Wins 4th Outdoor National Title
The Thunderbird men's track & field team won the 2026 NJCAA DI Men's Outdoor T&F Championships on Saturday, May 16 in Hobbs, NM.
The T-Birds won the team national title by four points with a score of 97 points. South Plains was runner-up with a team total of 93 points. Iowa Central CC placed third with a team score of 72 points.
NMJC last won the outdoor title in 2023. Coincidentally, 2023 was the last time NMJC hosted the NJCAA DI Men's Outdoor T&F Championships. The T-Birds swept the men's and women's titles in 2023 as well. The T-Birds have won the men's outdoor title in 1971, 1979, 2023, and 2026.
"Few coaches have the opportunity to win a National Championship much less actually win one," NMJC men's track & field head coach Terry VanLaningham said. "It is a dream come true to win one and to do it on our campus here in Hobbs makes it even more special!"
"It is always stressful going into the last few events especially if you do not have an entry, which was the case in the 4 x 400 relay," Coach VanLaningham said. "We have a well-balanced team which scores points in all the event areas. This gave us a sizable lead going into the 5K, which made it a little easier. Although I wasn't able to relax because the women were in a battle for their championship that was coming down to the 4x4 but it all worked out in the end."
The Thunderbirds ended the Saturday meet with five new individual All-Americans, one relay All-American squad, and two individual national champions. NMJC finished the meet with 15 individual All-Americans, five individual national champions, and two relay All-American squads.
Marc Delin started the morning with a bang by winning the discus with a throw of 60.37m. The freshman broke the school record on his final attempt. He broke his own school record of 59.93m from earlier this season. The performance earned him All-American status and added 10 points to the team score to start the final day.
David Nyamufarira won his third individual national title and first outdoor 100m title on Saturday. The sophomore set the NJCAA all-conditions national record in the 100m with a time of 9.88. The run was with +4.2 wind and was .2 away from being wind legal. The finish earned All-American distinction and put 10 points on the board toward the team score.
Nyamufarira finishes his Thunderbirds career as an eight-time All-American.
The T-Birds finished with five individual national champions LeBron James (javelin), Aaron McKenzie (high jump), Luiz Santos (decathlon), Marc Delin (discus), and David Nyamufarira (100m).
"The five individual champions sure led the team in winning events each day," Coach VanLaningham said. "This set the tone and kept our momentum going. There efforts gave us the score margin we needed to win going into the final events."
Raheim Scott placed third in the 400m final with a time of 46.47. The finish earned the T-Birds six points as Scott picked up his second All-American honor of his career.
The 4x100m relay squad of Samalie Farrington, Benjamin Nsiah, David Nyamufarira, and Johnathon Bai ran a 39.68 in the 4x100m to finish in fifth place. The All-American finish added four points to the team's total.
Romain Toth finished in fifth place in the 800m with a run of 1:51.65 to earn All-American honors. He finishes his career as a five-time All-American.
Carlos Brown battled through an injury to finish in eighth place in the 100m with a time of 13.23. The freshman earned All-American status after his teammate Samalie Farrington false started in the final.
The USTFCCCA Regional Awards were announced on Saturday. Coach Terry VanLaningham was named the Men's West Region Coach of the Year and Coach Kathleen Raske was named Men's West Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Luiz Santos earned Men's West Region Field Athlete of the Year.
The T-Birds completed the track & field season with an indoor national runner-up finish and an outdoor national championship.
"This journey began at the conclusion of the indoor meet when we finished just one point short," Coach VanLaningham said. "I know the men were determined for the T-Birds to come out on top and they fought the entire meet to accomplish their goal! I could not be proud of their attitude, efforts, and never give up or give in mindset."
