Cloud County Sports Information
LAWRENCE - Looking to build momentum in their final regular season meet of the year, the Cloud County Community College women's and men's track and field teams would combine to net 16 top-eight finishes while seeing sophomore Lucy Ndungu set a new school record in the 1,500 meters at the 2023 University of Kansas Rock Chalk Classic inside Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence on Saturday.
The meet would consist of a mixture of teams from the state of Kansas, along with surrounding states (Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri) with NCAA Division I, II, the NAIA, and NJCAA all represented.
Ndungu's school record highlighted the day for the T-Bird women as limited action would see just CCCC enter student-athletes in just 10 events with the Bridgeton, Missouri native running a time of 4:38.92 to finish as runner-up and break a record that had been held by Tyshema Brown since 1995 (4:43.42 seconds). Also earning runner-up honors in her only event of the day would be Miracle Thompson in the 100-meter hurdles, posting a time of 13.53 seconds to be just .03 seconds off her season-best time and number-two time in the NJCAA this season of 13.50 seconds.
The high jump would account for Cloud County's remaining top-eight finishes on the women's side, with Vanessa Mercera landing a runner-up finish after clearing 1.65 meters (5 ft. - 5 in.) while Shackala Henry would earn a seventh-place finish (1.60 meters, 5 ft. - 3 in.). The T-Birds would also add a top-10 finish from Passion Crews in the 800 meters with a time of 2:19.95 to finish ninth and the highest finish of seven CCCC runners in the event.
A big day from the Cloud County men would see event wins be earned by Hassan Abidi in the 800 meters (1:52.56) and Oageng Mdlela in the triple jump (14.75 meters, 48 ft. - 4.75 in.) to lead a total of six top-three finishes from T-Bird athletes. Coming in just behind Abidi in the 800 meters with a time of 1:52.73 would be Raziel Patton to finish as runner-up and post a season-best time while Awahkiwhe Ndlovu would take third in the triple jump after recording a mark of 14.25 meters (46 ft. - 9 in.).
Two CCCC athletes would record runner-up finishes in their respective events with Vincent Ugwoke claiming second in the discus with a throw of 55.60 meters (182 ft. - 5 in.) while Kidus Misgina would run a season-best time of 3:52.44 in the 1,500 meters to move into the top 15 of the NJCAA performance list this season. Other individual performances leading to top-eight finishes for Cloud County would include a seventh-place finish from Brandon Hutchinson in the javelin (51.69 meters, 169 ft. - 7 in.), Ben Okraska in the pole vault (4.43 meters, 14 ft. - 6.25 in.) and Siyabonga Mokgothu in the 1,500 meters (3:57.21). The remaining top-eight finishes for the T-Birds all came in relay events, with Emmanuel Anis, Leroy Kamau, Emmanuel Wanga, and Shadrick Tansi posting a 4x100 meter relay time of 41.60 seconds to take sixth while Kamau, Wanga, Tansi, and Jonathan Dende would take fifth in the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 3:16.99 seconds to edge out teammates Abidi, Quwayne Reid, Mason Schurr, and Daniel Siaffa who run a sixth-place time of 3:17.49 in the event.
What's next?
Postseason action is next up for Cloud County with the 2023 NJCAA Region VI Outdoor Track and Field Championships set to commence on Thursday in Coffeyville. The three-day meet will see the T-Bird men try to defend their 2022 NJCAA Region VI Outdoor Title and fifth consecutive top-two finish at the outdoor championship meet. The CCCC women meanwhile will look for a third consecutive Region VI Outdoor title after winning the last two contested championships which included going over the 200-point mark in last year's title that marked four consecutive NJCAA Region VI Titles (indoor and outdoor) before seeing the streak snapped at the 2023 Region VI Indoor Championships.