LINCOLN, Nebraska — The Cloud County Community College track and field teams got their 2018 indoor season underway over the weekend at the two-day Graduate Classic, hosted Friday and Saturday by the University of Nebraska.
Cloud County impressed as it posted 10 NJCAA national qualifying marks, highlighted by a second-place finish from sophomore Stephen Marindich in the men's 800-meter run. Marindich crossed the line in 1:55.04, right on the heels of Nebraska's Ty Moss (1:53.54).
Fellow sophomore distance runners Thobile Mosito and Moses Dirane each crossed off national qualifying marks, as well, with Mosito taking fourth in the 5,000-meter run (15:00.93) and Dirane earning 12th in the 3,000-meter run (8:47.79).
The trio, along with freshman Tanner Brown, also guided the Cloud County distance medley relay team to a fifth-place finish and qualifying time of 10:28.79.
Cloud newcomer Thom Reynders joined Mosito with a top-10 finish and qualifying mark in the 5,000-meter with a time of 15:26.22.
Sophomore thrower Vashon McCarthy rounded out the men's team national qualifiers as he took home a third-place finish in the shot put with a throw of 55'7.75''.
On the women's side, Cloud County received big days from its female throwers as well with freshmen Avi Bulai and Takrya Hilton, and sophomore Gabbreil Harris, all posting national qualifying marks.
Harris and Bulai did their damage in the weight throw, with Harris finishing sixth (51'3.50'') and Bulai coming in 11th overall (48'4'').
Hilton collected a top-10 finish in the women's shot put with a qualifying throw of 42'7.5''.
Sophomore sprinter Jatoria McGirt also had a memorable weekend for the T-Birds as she set a school record in the 60-meter dash during the heat races. McGirt's national qualifying time of 7.64 edged the previous Cloud record of 7.67 set last season by Marjorie Thompson.
Up next for the T-Birds will be a trip to Norman, Oklahoma next Saturday to compete in the Oklahoma Central Invitational.
