Suarez Breaks 200m Record in Lubbock
Gabriela Anahi Suarez broke her second school record in two weeks when the T-Birds competed at the Jarvis Scott Invite Feb. 13-14 in Lubbock, Texas.
Suarez shattered the 200m school record with her 23.33 at the Texas Tech Sports Performance Center. The time beat Ayla Stanisclaus' school record of 23.52 by .19 seconds. The 200m finish is ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA for the event.
The women ended the meet with seven new national qualifying standards, five improved qualifiers, and one relay qualifier.
Amal Kachouri led the distance runners this week with her 2:53.13 in the 1000m to rank No. 3 in the NJCAA. Yididiya Bifa qualified in the 3000m with her run of 10:01.19 this weekend. The time is No. 6 in the NJCAA for the event.
Ines Mrabet reached the national standard in the 5000m with a time of 17:48.47. The sophomore's finish is ranked No. 8 in the NJCAA for the event. Lisel Ndlovu also raced in the 5000m, qualifying for nationals with a finish of 18:56.51.
Sprinter Hajar Eddaou improved on her previous qualifying times in both the 60m and 200m. The freshman ran a 7.55 in the 60m to improve by .06 seconds and rank No. 14 in the NJCAA. She improved in the 200m by .04 seconds to run a 24.73.
Nalicia Glen was an improver as well this week in Lubbock in the 60m running a 7.62. She bettered her time by .06 seconds.
Sophomore Tuwana McLean ran a 57.33 in the 400m to nationally qualify in the event. Freshman Charissa December finished with an 8.92 in the 60mH to qualify for nationals in Kansas.
The field events had two improved qualifiers over at Texas Tech. Tiana Petrova improved on her previous national standard by .02m to clear 1.68m in the high jump. The sophomore two-time national champion is No. 2 in the NJCAA for the event.
Gabriella Tcheukam has steadily improved each week in the weight throw. The sophomore threw 15.69m to improve on her national qualifying mark by .25m. The throw is ranked No. 11 in the NJCAA for the event.
The T-Birds mile relay team of Charissa December, Tuwana McLean, Gabriela Anahi Suarez, and Motlatsi Rante nationally qualified in the 4x400m with an NJCAA leading 3:43.55 in the event.
The Thunderbirds move up a spot to No. 2 in the USTFCCCA Track & Field Women's Indoor Rating Index.
The T-Birds next meet is Saturday, Feb. 21 in Levelland, Texas at the Last Chance Qualifier. The meet is the last opportunity for the T-Birds to qualify athletes for NJCAA Indoor T&F Nationals which is set to take place March 6-7 at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.