T-Birds Prepare for WXC Nationals, Bifa Looks to Stay Undefeated
The Thunderbird women's cross country team competes at the 2025 NJCAA Cross Country Championships in Fort Dodge, Iowa at Lakeside Municipal GC on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 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 women'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."
NMJC is looking to improve on their 3rd place-finish at the 2024 NJCAA Cross Country Championships in Richmond, VA.
"After getting out there on the course today, I think they were excited, but they understand that we just need to stick to what we've done all year long," Coach Becker said. "If we do that, we'll end up very well tomorrow."
Teams are only allowed to compete with seven runners at nationals and just five runners will count toward NMJC's team score.
NMJC will be led by sophomore Yididiya Bifa, sophomore Amal Kachouri, sophomore Lindsey Lopes, sophomore Lisel Ndlovu, sophomore Hadil Chiha, freshman Alejandra Sierra and freshman Elsa Gueret.
Sophomore Ines Mrabet will miss the NJCAA XC Championships with an injury. She placed 17th with a time of 17:57.40 at the 2024 XC Championships in Richmond.
"This year has been a little frustrating with the injuries," Becker said. "I don't think on either side we've ever ran a meet this year where we had our all of our best runners out there on the course, and we're going to end that way. We're not going to be able be at full strength tomorrow, but I still think we are probably overall in the healthiest spot that we've been in all year, and I think that'll definitely help us in the race. Even with those injuries, I still think we can perform really well."
Bifa is one of the top runners in the country and is undefeated this season. She transferred in from the cross country nationals host Iowa Central this season. Last year at ICCC, she placed third overall at the championships with a time of 17:23.40.
"I think Yididiya has a great shot tomorrow," Coach Becker said. "There's a lot of talented runners out there, you know, there's probably a good handful that could have a chance at winning individually, and she's definitely one of them. She's got to do again what she's done all year long. She's got to run with confidence in the race. If she can just tuck into the pack, she has a great finish. I look for if she can be able to be right there with the leaders with 1k to go. Then, I would count on her to win."
Amal Kachouri slides into the No. 2 spot for the T-Birds and looks to repeat as an NJCAA All-American after finishing 10th place with a time of 17:50.10 at the 2024 XC Championships.
Lisel Ndlovu came in 41st Place with a finish of 18:41.80 and Hadil Chiha placed 53rd with a time of 19:12.50 in 2024.
The T-Birds were ranked No. 4 in the final USTFCCCA Coaches Poll prior to nationals.
NMJC competes in the NJCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 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.