Lacarthea Cooper Sets School Record in 400m

The NMJC women's track and field team finished with nine national qualifying marks and set one school record on Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Stan Scott Memorial in Lubbock, Texas.

Lacarthea Cooper broke the NMJC school record in the 400m Saturday afternoon with her national qualifying time of 54.04. The finish is No. 1 in the NJCAA so far this season. The previous NMJC school record was held by D'Jai Baker who ran a 54.07 in 2018. Dejona Simpson also ran the 400m race and finished with a national qualifying time of 55.47. The time is currently second in the NJCAA for the event.

Kamaria Knight ran a national qualifying time of 7.48 in the 60m. The time is No. 2 in the NJCAA for the event.

Jody Ann Mitchell posted a time of 3:05.04 to qualify for nationals in the 1000m. The time is ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA for the race. 

Lisanne Schapendonk was right behind her in the race nationally qualifying with a time of 3:06.84. Schapendonk is No. 4 in the NJCAA for the 1000m. Jayne Elvin was the third member of the team to be a national qualifier in the 1000m after she registered a time of 3:09.11.

Achol Maywin is headed back to indoor nationals after qualifying with a leap of 1.70m in the high jump. Daniel Hinds also made a national qualifying leap with a high jump of 1.65m. Esteisy Salas-Lozano was the final field athlete at the meet to qualify for nationals with a throw of 14.11m in the shot put.

Lacarthea Cooper was named the USTFCCCA's NJCAA National Athlete of the Week for her performance over the weekend in Lubbock, Texas.

The Thunderbirds next meet will be in Albuquerque, NM at the MLK Invite inside the Albuquerque Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 20.