Men's Indoor Track | 2/5/2026 3:04:00 PM

Following a weekend of strong performances at the Washburn Open and the Charlie Foster Classic, the Cloud County Community College men's track and field team has climbed seven spots to No. 14 in the latest NJCAA Men's Indoor Track & Field National Track & Field Rating Index (TFRI), released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) this week.

The Cloud County men's indoor track and field team collected two event victories, five NJCAA national qualifying marks and established a new school record at the Washburn Open. Sophomore sprinter Alpha Mpofu led the T-Birds with a victory in the Men's 400M Dash, crossing the finish line in a new indoor school record time of 46.65. Mpofu's national qualifying time ranks No. 4 nationally in NJCAA and also set a new Washburn Open meet record. Mpofu added a third place finish in the Men's 200M Dash, clocking a national qualifying time of 21.30, which ties a Cloud County indoor school record. Mpofu continued his strong showing on the track by helping the Cloud County men's 4x400M Relay team to a fifth place finish, posting a national qualifying time of 3:14.05. Other members of the team are sophomore Barafa Abdulazis and freshmen Sonycko Ilet and Keon Williams.

Mpofu was named this week as both the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week and the NJCAA Men's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week.

Abdulazis also delivered national qualifying performances in the Men's 400M Run and the Men's 600 Yard Run. Abdulazis turned in a time of 47.69 to finish 12th in the 400M Run, and added a 12th place finish in the 600 Yard Run with a time of 1:11.94.

Freshman pole vaulter Kacper Kurzewski added another event win for the T-Birds with a vault of 15'03" to finish first in the Men's Pole Vault Open.

At the Charlie Foster Classic in Kearney, Nebraska, sophomore Gelasa Degefa Abdisa led the way on the track with a second place finish in the Men's Mile in a time of 4:33.42. Freshman Davis Miltner placed third with a time of 4:34.11. Freshman Jesus Balthazar added a tenth place finish in 4:43.38.

Abdisa also competed in the Men's 3,000M, finishing in seventh place in 9:21.59. Miltner finished sixth in 9:25.54.

Also on the track, freshman Trystan Green captured a seventh place finish in the Men's 200M Dash in a time of 23.94.

In field events, sophomore Asa Berry delivered a fourth place finish in the Men's Weight Throw with a throw of 48'7.5". Freshman Jadrian Riley followed with a tenth place finish with a toss of 45'0.5".

Sophomore Braylon Bittel placed fifth in the Men's Shot Put with a throw of 45'5.25".

Sophomore Evan Carr placed sixth in the Men's Triple Jump at a mark of 42'0.75".

The T-Birds will look to strengthen their national standing this weekend at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska on February 6-7, and at the Fred Beile Track and Field Classic at Doane University in Crete, Nebraska on February 7.