Women's Cross Country | 11/9/2024 6:21:00 PM

The Cloud County Community College women's cross country team finished in 9th place out of 25 schools that competed in the 2024 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships Saturday, November 9 at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Virginia. The 9th place finish is the best finish for the T-Birds since 2022 when the team also placed 9th overall at the national meet.

Sophomore N Vanee Anchike was the first T-Bird to cross the finish line. Anchike came in 8th place out of 184 runners, finishing the 5k in 17:48.3. Anchike receives All-American honors for the second straight season. A year ago in the national meet in Huntsville, Alabama, Anchike placed 10th overall in a time of 18:16.50.

Freshman Mercy Angaaamchaab also posted a top 20 finish. Angaamchaab ran the 5k in 17:57.9 to finish 18th individually.

Freshman Nontokozo Ncube crossed the finish line in 18:31.7 to finish in 36th place.

Sophomore Joella Mathilda (118th), freshman Rafiatu Nuhu (126th) and sophomore Jaelyn Rumback (139th) all crossed the finish line in less than 40 seconds of each other. Mathilda finished in 20:47.2. Nuhu completed the race in 20:59.5. Rumback rounded out the T-Bird runners with a time of 21:20.7.

Freshman Elizabeth Ilanda of Odessa College was the top individual runner in a time of 17:08.0.

Salt Lake Community College won the national title, beating out Iowa Western Community College and New Mexico Junior College.