NMMI Sports Press
On Saturday, November 11th, the NMMI Lady Bronco cross country team competed in the NJCAA Division I Championships in Fort Dodge, IA and finished 25th overall with 727 points.
Head Coach Jan Olesinski said, "Overall, it was a good trip. It was the first time we were able to compete as a team at nationals, not just as individual runners. "
"We took six girls to the championship meet – who were all freshman – and competed against 42 teams and over 300 runners from 50-plus different junior colleges from across the nation."
Esther Boran finished 107th and Mia Walker finished 131st. Two other NMMI runners would finish in the top 200.
Olesinski said, "I think our girls were a little bit surprised by the size of the meet, and excited, too. Then, also, there was the weather. During the practice run on Friday, the temperature was about 18 or 19 degrees, when you factor in the wind-chill. Saturday, the day of the meet, it got better, maybe 30 degrees, but it was still cold – a lot colder than what we were used to here in New Mexico."
Olesinski expected at least one of his girls to finish near the top 25, but this meet was valuable experience for next year.
"Next year, nationals will be in Garden City, Kansas: a much shorter trip and hopefully a bit warmer. Maybe those things, along with the experience we gained this year, will help us break into the top 20, said Olesinski.
NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships
NMMI individual — 107, Esther Boran, 20:19.6; 131, Sierra Walker 20:36.2; 156, Kayla Sisneros, 20:51.7; 194, Anna Zimovjanova, 21:36.1; 231, Niajah Johnson, 22:14.0; 243, Claire Van Houten, 22:32.6.