NMJC (WXC) Finishes 4th in Lubbock

The Thunderbird women's cross country team placed fourth at the Texas Tech Open 6k with a team score of 121 points. 

Odessa was the highest ranked junior college team in the field in third place with 61 points. West Texas A&M finished in first place with 27 points and Texas Tech was in second with 50 points. 

Ines Mrabet was the top finisher for the T-Birds in Lubbock placing 12th with a time of 22:00.20. The finish was 1:08 faster than her 2024 Texas Tech Open. Amal Kachouri raced in her first meet this season, running a 22:48.50 to finish in 17th place. The sophomore was 23 seconds quicker than in 2024 at the same race.

Lisel Ndlovu was the third runner for the T-Birds across the line with a 23:47.30 to place 26th overall. The sophomore was the largest improvement on the team as she ran 1:26 faster than in 2024.    

Sophomore transfer Lindsey Lopes ran a 24:28.30 Friday morning to finish 34th at the LCU Cross Country Course. Freshman Alejandra Sierra slotted in at the final spot in the lineup with a 37th-place finish after completing the race in 24:35.10.

Sophomore Hadil Chiha ran a 24:45.90 to place 38th. The time is 1:02 faster than in 2024. Freshman Elsa Gueret was the final runner for NMJC with a 24:48.20 to place 39th. Sophomore Yididiya Bifa was out Friday 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 Western and No. 1 Odessa. 

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