Carlie Makarawu Runs to World No. 3 at the UNM Team Open

The New Mexico Junior College men's track and field team competed at the University of New Mexico Team Open in Albuquerque, NM Jan. 27-28.

The meet consisted of nine athletes earning indoor national qualifying marks, three improved qualifiers, and one school record shattered. 

Freshman Tapiwanashe (Carlie) Makarawu was the star of the meet for the T-Birds improving on his national qualifying mark with a record-setting time of 20.47 in the 200m. The time is currently No. 1 in NJCAA, No. 2 all-time for the NJCAA, and No. 3 in the world this year.

"I look for Carlie to continue to improve, he's going through his progressions with Coach Hall," track and field head coach Keith Blackwill said. "With how fast he's gotta go by the end of the season, we don't know but we do know he will continue to improve with us." 

Makarawu was honored on Tuesday as the NJCAA men's division USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week for his performance in Albuquerque over the weekend. 

Takudzwa (Donald) Chiyangwa nationally qualified second in Albuquerque with a time of 20.70 in the 200m, just behind his Thunderbird teammate Makarawu. The Freshman is No. 2 in the NJCAA and 14th in the country for all collegiate levels in the 200m. 

Freshman Aymane El Haddaoui ranks No. 13 in the NJCAA in the 200m with a national standard of 21.47. Freshman Khybah Dawson rounded out the quartet of T-Bird runners in the 200m with a national mark of 21.51, which sits at No. 18 in the NJCAA.

The relay team of El Haddaoui (46.67), Makarawu (46.74), Dawson (48.02), and Chiyangwa (46.20) improved on their earlier national qualifying run this weekend in the 4x400 relay. The 3:08.19 sprint was a school record at NMJC, ranks No. 2 at the NJCAA level, and No. 21 collegiately. 

Che Saunders breezed through the 60mH finish line in 7.96. The sophomore is currently ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA in the 60mH.

Freshman German Vega finished the mile in 4:20.38, which ranks No. 7 in the NJCAA so far this season.

Tomas Vega also met the national standard in the mile with a time of 4:22.52 (No. 8 NJCAA). Vega improved on his 3000m nationally mark with a strut in 8:35.16 (No. 4 NJCAA).

Sophomore Evans Pololet nationally qualified in the 600m finishing in 1:19.83. The sophomore ranks No. 15 NJCAA in the event. Pololet also hit the national standard in the 800m running in 1:54.55. He ranks No. 16 in the NJCAA in the 800m.

Freshman Dhia Gaaloul met the standard with a triple jump leap of 46' 10 ¼" (No. 11 NJCAA). 

"The men competed really well last weekend. I thought they did a good job. They improved on quite a bit of times in marks," Blackwill said. "This weekend we're not taking a full team, we're gonna leave a few back. I would hope that the kids that are going will keep improving." 

The Thunderbirds maintained the No. 2 spot in Week 2's USTFCCCA NJCAA Men's Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.

The T-Birds will compete next at the University of New Mexico Indoor Collegiate Classic in Albuquerque, NM Feb. 3-4.