NMJC (M-Half Marathon) to Race Tuesday, Nov. 11
The Thunderbirds will run at the 2025 NJCAA Half Marathon Championships in Fort Dodge, IA Tuesday, Nov. 11 starting at 10:10 a.m. CST.
The half marathon's 13.1 mile trail begins on Iowa Central CC's property and finishes at Lakeside Municipal GC.
In 2024, the T-Birds finished in fourth place at the Half Marathon Championships in Richmond VA.
The team will feature three returners from last year's team and four newcomers.
Emmanuel Kimaiyo is the No. 1 returner competing this week in Iowa. The sophomore finished in 17th place with a time of 1:09:05.60 in 2024.
Israel Takap will run for the second consecutive season. Takap came in 52nd place after crossing the finish line in 1:14:19.70 in 2024. Nathan Bonavida is the final runner that brings experience in the half marathon. Bonavida ran a 1:15:43.20 to finish 64th in Richmond.
Sophomore Mohammed Mrahi missed last season's race due to injury but he will run this year. Elmehdi Bouchouata, Addiso Bitew, and Ronald Jecky are the three other runners for NMJC. This will be their first action with such a distance at the collegiate level.
"I'm excited with the depth we have on the guys," NMJC men's half marathon head coach Jeff Becker said. "If they go out there and run well, I think we've got a shot at doing well enough to bring home a national trophy. For a lot of them, they're a little bit disappointed about Saturday's cross country race. This is their chance to go out and show the rest of the NJCAA runners that they are in good fitness and are ready to run. Saturday didn't really show who they were and now this is a chance for them to show themselves out there."
NMJC will be without their best racer from last season's half marathon in Brian Cheruiyot who ran 1:08.20.60 to finish in 13th place in 2024.
Thunderbird fans can follow the race live by clicking this link.
