LINCOLN, Neb. - Competing in two different meets over the course of two days, the Cloud County Community women's track and field team continued to shine in the 2022 indoor track and field season with four new national qualifying marks being set at the 2022 University of Nebraska Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational and the 2022 Wichita State University Herm Wilson Invitational.
Neither meet would keep team scores, as both events would feature a mix of NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA competition.
The highly competitive Husker Invitational that would draw teams from as far away as both South Dakota and Oklahoma, the T-Birds would hold their own despite limited entries as Melody Ochana would run a national qualifying time of 5:21.41 in the mile run to finish fifth while Ludjenie Mondesir posted a time of 10:38.53 in the 3,000 meters that would clear the minimum national qualifying time as part of an eighth-place finish. The 4x400 meter relay team of Isila Apkup, Leonie Beu, Pamela Milano, and Vanessa Mercera would earn CCCC's lone win of the weekend by running a season-best time of 3:50.36.
Other action at the Husker Invitational in Lincoln saw Pamela Milano take third in the 600 meters (1:34.47) while Vimbayi Maisvorewa took fifth in the 400 meters (55.66 seconds). CCCC also saw Passion Crews run a national qualifying of 2:20.34 in the 800 meters, becoming the fourth Cloud County runner to post a qualifying time in the event.
Things in Wichita would be primarily conducted on Saturday for the T-Birds as Mercera would compete in the Pentathlon and take second with 3,105 points alongside Faithlyn Irving who took sixth with 2,807 points. Both of the totals currently rank inside the top-eight among NJCAA athletes this season in the pentathlon, with Mercera's total ranking third. CCCC would see both Maggie Armstrong and Mia Manley hit season-best marks in the pole vault (3.06 meters, 10 ft. - 0.5 in.) with Manley qualifying for the 2022 NJCAA Indoor National Championships to join Armstrong who had already qualified.
Throwing events would also be a strong area for Cloud County as Tahisha Thompson placed second in the weight throw with a mark of 14.11 meters (46 f t. - 3.5 in.) while Hollie Stewart took third in the shot put (12.39 meters, 40 ft. - 7.75 in.). Other top-eight finishes in Wichita included a seventh-place finish from Bailey Rock in the 600 meters (1:54.01) as well as a seventh-place finish from Christina Beard in the 1,000 meters (3:45.45).
What's next?
Just one regular-season event remains for the T-Birds before postseason competition in the indoor season as CCCC will head to Topeka to compete in the 2022 Washburn University Mid-Week Challenge on Thursday. In their previous stop at Washburn this season, Cloud County would finish second behind only NCAA Division I Wichita State while posting five national qualifying marks.
Feb 06, 2022
T-Bird women's track adds 4 national qualifying marks in 2 meets
Posted Feb 06, 2022 4:25 PM