Track/Cross Country Story

2003
NMJC CROSS COUNTRY
HARRIER REPORT #9

MEET: NJCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
LOCATION: Rimrock Farm, Lawrence, Kansas
DATE: November 8, 2003
COURSE AND CONDITIONS: The temperature was 30° with a wind chill of 22-25°. The course was basically long rolling hills with a couple of steep up and down hills. The ground was dry and very hard.
TEAMS PARTICIPATING AND SCORES: 1) Yavapai College – 35; 2) South Plains College – 65; 3) Butler County – 69; 4) Central Arizona – 114; 5) Barton County – 139; 6) Pima Community College – 160; 7) NMJC – 179; 8) Colorado Northwestern CC – 197; 9) El Paso Community College – 212; 10) Cowley College – 234; 11) Spartanburg Methodist College – 270.

COACH’S COMMENTS:
Going into the national meet, I knew we would place anywhere between 5th and 10th. If we were to finish 5th, it would take an extraordinary performance by all of the young ladies; and, if we finished 10th, we would have had a very poor showing.
I was very pleased with the outcome of the meet! Last year, we finished 7th with an All-American. This year, the overall team performance was better, which allowed us to repeat last year’s team placing. The other very encouraging part of this weekend is that five of the seven runners are freshman and should be back for the 2004 season.

The ladies didn’t run personal best times this weekend; yet, I feel there were reasons for this which were beyond our control. The cold weather was a factor, as well as the long trip. It’s tough to travel for two days and then try to run personal best times. Realizing the trip was going to be tough, I just hoped we would run consistently. The ladies did exactly that!

I feel this was a break-through season for us, considering the number of freshman returning next year. They should know what to expect and have a better idea of what it takes to be contenders.

Up next for us is a one-week break and then it’s back to training for the upcoming indoor and outdoor track seasons.

NMJC RUNNERS, PLACES AND TIMES:
21st Jasmine Sanchez 20:35
29th Rita Ameri 21:06
38th Amanda Montes 21:53
43rd Becky Zubiate 22:07
48th Vanessa Marquez 22:22
57th Carmen Diaz 22:58
65th Ashley Dailey 23:51