T-Bird (MXC) Finishes 3rd at Texas Tech Open, Brian Cheruiyot Places 5th

The NMJC men's cross country team finished in third place at the Texas Tech Open 8k with a team score of 78 points. 

The T-Birds were the top ranked junior college team in the field ahead of Odessa who totaled 203 points. Texas Tech won the event with 44 points and West Texas A&M was second with 70 points.  

Brian Cheruiyot ran well for the second straight meet. The sophomore finished the 8k in 24:26.40 to finish in fifth place. Cheruiyot was 54 seconds better than where he finished in 2024 at the same meet. 

Mohammed Mrahi was slightly behind Cheruiyot in eighth place coming across the line in 24:45.90. The Moroccan was 39 seconds faster than what he ran in 2024. 

Emmanuel Kimaiyo finished in 17th place on Friday with a time of 25:45.60. The Kenyan was 39 seconds better than his 2024 time. 

Freshman Ronald Jecky placed 20th overall Friday morning with a time of 26:01.30. Freshman Addido Bitew rounded out the team score in 28th place with a finish of 26:46.50. 

Freshman Elmehdi Bouchouata crossed the finish line in 37th place with a time of 27:01.00. Sophomore Erwan Darrieulat finished his race in 48th place with a time of 27:38.90. The finish is 22 seconds better than his 2024 time.  

Sophomore Israel Takap came in 53rd place with a finish of 27:52.20. Freshman Rayane Courtois was the final T-Bird to finish the meet as he trotted across the line in 86th place with a time of 29:50.40. Sophomore Killian LeBourhis did race but was unable to finish dropping out at the 6k mark. Sophomore Nathan Bonavida did not start due to injury.  

The USTFCCCA just released the Week 1 Coaches Poll with the Thunderbirds coming in ranked No. 3 in the country behind No. 2 Iowa Central and No. 1 Iowa Western. 

The Thunderbirds will have the week off before they host the inaugural NMJC Dr. Steve McCleery Invitational Friday, Sept. 26 at 9:45 a.m. MDT in Hobbs, NM at Harry McAdams Park.