T-Bird Men's XC is Perfect to Begin Season

The New Mexico Junior College men's cross country team posted a perfect score at the Western Texas College Open 5k to claim their first win of the season.

The first meet of the season was a resounding success for the men in Snyder, Texas. 

Sophomore Tomas Vega won his first cross country race of his career at the Western Texas College Open Friday morning. Vega crossed the line in 16:40.30. Freshman newcomer Miguel Medina had a fantastic start to his Thunderbird career with a second-place finish in the 5k race (16:45.40). 

Sophomore German Vega was not far behind Medina in third place with a time of 16:51.40. Sophomore Alex Keter returned from his injury sustained in the Region V Championship to compete in his first cross country race since October of 2022. Keter placed fourth crossing the finish line in 17:00.80. Sophomore Marc Pauvert rounded out the team scoring with his fifth-place finish of 17:04.20.

Wilson Navarrete was not too far off the pace in sixth place with a time of 17:39.80. Freshman Paul Maurer was a tenth of a second behind Navarrete in seventh place (17:39.90). Cyprien Bille was the final runner to finish for the T-Birds coming in 14th place with a time of 18:56.40.  

"Tomas Vega had a great race for us winning for the first time in his cross country career," cross country head coach Jeff Becker said. "Miguel's second-place finish was also impressive for us as he is one of our freshmen newcomers."

The men travel to Las Cruces, NM to participate in the Lori Fitzgerald Memorial Open Sept. 2.