Ritchie Excels in College Station

The T-Bird women's track & field team finished with six new national qualifying standards and four improved qualifiers at the Charlie Thomas Invitational in College Station, Texas on Friday, Feb. 2.

Jumper Kavel Ritchie had a productive meet in College Station. The freshman nationally qualified in the triple jump with a leap of 11.46m. Ritchie also was an improved qualifier by .02m in the long jump with a mark of 5.56m. Ritchie ranked No. 11 in the NJCAA for the long jump and No. 9 in the NJCAA for the triple jump.

Kamaria Knight improved on her previous 200m national qualifying time by .37 seconds to finish with a time of 24.19. Knight's time places her at No. 3 in the NJCAA for the 200m. Nandy Kihuyu met the national standard in the 200m with a finish of 24.87. 

Dejona Simpson was an improved qualifier in the 400m with her time of 55.21. The performance is .26 seconds faster than earlier this season. Simpson is currently ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA for the 400m behind her NMJC teammate Lacarthea Cooper.

Jayne Elvin reached the qualifying standard in the 800m after posting a time of 2:16.32. Elvin is ranked No. 10 in the NJCAA for the event. Daphne Kausz ran a 2:20.52 in the same race to improve by 2.77 seconds on her initial national qualifying time she set in Albuquerque last week. 

Distance runner Vanessa Gallegos qualified for nationals in the mile with a 5:15.90 finish. Carolyne Kimaiyo was a national qualifier in the 5000m. The sophomore distance runner posted a finish of 18:28.86 to rank herself No. 11 in the NJCAA for the event.  

The T-Birds earned national qualification status in the distance medley relay after recording a time of 12:17.59. The DMR squad of Vanessa Gallegos, Ysanne Peart, Jody Ann Mitchell, and Lisanne Schapendonk are ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA for the event.   

The Thunderbirds next meet will be Feb 9-10 in Lubbock, Texas at the Jarvis Scott Open inside the Sports Performance Center.