Women’s T&F MIle Relay Breaks School Record

The NMJC women's track & field mile relay squad set a new school record by .95 seconds in the 4x400m with a time of 3:39.61 at the Jarvis Scott Open on Saturday, Feb. 10.

The 4x400m team consisted of Nandy Kihuyu (55.61), Dejona Simpson (54.29), Kamaria Knight (55.39), and Lacarthea Cooper (54.32). The performance is ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA by more than two seconds.

Jody Ann Mitchell competed in the 600y and finished with an improved national standard of 1:24.68 (1:34.85) via the 600m conversion. The 600m race will be the official distance run at nationals. The converted time is good enough to place Mitchell at No. 2 in the NJCAA for the event.

Dejona Simpson nationally qualified in the 200m with a finish of 24.35. The time is No. 7 in the NJCAA for the event. Jumper Kavel Ritchie leapt to a personal best of 11.67m in the triple jump. The leap was .21m farther than in College Station and is No. 7 in the NJCAA for the event. 

The T-Birds had a quintet of runners competing in the 1000m and all five either nationally qualified or were improved qualifiers in the event.

Lisanne Schapendonk broke the three minute threshold and improved her qualifying time by 7.27 seconds with a 2:59.11 finish in the 1000m. The time is ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA for the event. Jayne Elvin was the second improved qualifier for the T-Birds in the 1000m. The Englishwoman shaved 6.08 seconds off her previous time to complete the race in 3:03.03. The finish is No. 6 in the NJCAA for the event.

Vanessa Gallegos ran a 3:04.01 to nationally qualify as the No. 8 best runner in the NJCAA for the 1000m. Daphne Kausz recorded a 3:08.70 national qualifying standard. Morgan Waltmire was the final athlete to meet the national standard in the 1000m as she crossed the line in 3:09.78.

The T-Bird women's track & field team finished the meet with five improved qualifying marks, four national qualifying times, and one school record. 

The Thunderbirds will now have a few weeks off to prepare for the 2024 NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship on March 1-2 in Gainesville, Fla., at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center.