T-Bird (MXC) Set to Race at Nationals in Iowa
The NMJC men's cross country team is set to compete at the 2025 NJCAA Cross Country Championships in Fort Dodge, Iowa at Lakeside Municipal GC on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 12 p.m. CST.
NMJC will try to navigate the heavy snow Saturday afternoon where the forecast predicts the high to reach 35°F.
"The weather is going to add another challenge to the meet and to the course," NMJC men's cross country head coach Jeff Becker said. "The good thing is it'll affect all the teams the same. So, whoever comes in with the right mindset is going to be the ones that are successful tomorrow. We've done a lot more morning runs this year than normal, just to prepare a little bit and run in some colder weather. You know, I was telling them on those, some of those cold mornings that we were doing Iowa weather training, and that's the kind of the way we're going into it, just trying to be positive."
The Thunderbirds are motivated to make the podium this season after finishing in 7th Place at the 2024 NJCAA Cross Country Championships in Richmond, VA.
"We were disappointed last year, and that's carried over with a lot of sophomores," Coach Becker said. "They've been focused all year long to try to go out and bring home a national trophy."
NMJC was ranked No. 4 in the final USTFCCCA Coaches Poll prior to nationals.
Teams are only allowed to compete with seven runners at nationals and just five runners will count toward NMJC's team score.
The T-Birds top seven runners competing this week are sophomore Mohammed Mrahi, sophomore Emmanuel Kimaiyo, sophomore Brian Cheruiyot, freshman Addiso Bitew, freshman Ronald Jecky, freshman Elmehdi Bouchouata, and sophomore Killian LeBourhis.
"We've had a different order almost all year long. But we need at least two of the guys to be up there close to the top 10 to 15 in order to give us a good shot there," Coach Becker said. "Regardless of who it is, you know, Mohammed's really been running well right now, and I look for him to be one of them. But just like I mentioned it could come in the form of Brian or Killian, or even Emmanuel. Emmanuel has been really steady for us this year, and he's in in tremendous shape. I look for him to do really well Saturday."
Freshman Alexandre Fablet was the fifth runner for NMJC at regionals but he will sit out this week due to an injury.
Only Brian Cheruiyot and Emmanuel Kimaiyo competed at nationals and finished the race in 2024.
Cheruiyot was a Coaches Association All-American in 19th place with a time of 24:24.50. Kimaiyo finished in 46th place with a time of 25:16.20.
In 2024, LeBourhis had to drop out of the race due to injury and Mrahi did not compete due to injury.
"This year we've got more depth than what we had last year," Coach Becker said. "So even with some slight injuries, we had one guy come out and another guy step right in there that's just as talented and just as good. I think that's definitely going to help come race day. I think we're beat up, but all the teams are when you get to this time of the year, so I think our depth is going to is really going to pay off for us."
The T-Birds compete in the NJCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 12 p.m. CST in Fort Dodge, IA., at Lakeside Municipal GC. The race will be streamed on Runners Space for a fee. There will also be live timing, which can be located here.
