Thunderbird track and field teams rank top ten nationally

The men’s and women’s track and field teams at Mesa Community College both hold top five spots in the week Two edition of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association rankings.

Women’s

The women’s team sits at number one in the country in the USTFCCCA National Junior College Athletics Association Division I April 3 rankings, outpacing New Mexico Junior College in second and Pima Community College in third.

MCC won the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference championships, hosted by Paradise Valley Community College on March 29.

Name(s)EventFinal Mark
Maliyah Ross (So.)Long jump5.75 meters
Maleah Tucker (Fr.)Hammer throw46.42 meters
Sarah Nipper (Fr.)Pole vault3.6 meters
Katherine Lemish (Fr.)100 meter hurdles14.43 seconds
Odelia Lemons (Fr.)100 meter12.15 seconds
Reanna Campbell (So.)400 meter56.36 seconds
Taylor Jacobs (So.)800 meter1 minute, 7.46 seconds
Anna Harmon (So.)5000 meter18 minutes, 36.10 seconds
Katherine Lemish
Odelia Lemons
Zamirah Parker (So.)
Deshay Turner (Fr.)
4×100 meter relay46.83 seconds
Deshay Turner
Reanna Campbell
Diana Ondobo
(So.)Taylor Jacobs
4×400 meter relay3 minutes, 48.08 seconds

The Thunderbirds secured ten different event victories during the ACCAC championships on Friday, March 29.

MCC went undefeated in head-to-head competition, defeating all other opponents at the meet.

MCC defeated Pima 110-75, Central Arizona College 96-90, Glendale Community College 119-46, Paradise Valley 125-20, and Phoenix College 129-11.

The USTFCCCA also released their NJCAA Indoor All-American honors on March 27. The indoor track and field season is played from January to the beginning of March.

NameEvent(s)
Natalie BrzezniakPentathlon, 4×800 meter relay
Reanna Campbell600 meter, 4×800 meter relay
Kendra Guest4×800 meter relay
Taylor Jacobs600 meter, 4×400 meter relay
Diane Ondobo4×400 meter relay
Danna Martinez Porras4×800 meter relay
Maliyah RossPentathlon, 4×800 meter relay
Deshay Turner4×400 meter relay

The women’s track and field team athletes were awarded NJCAA All-American honors.

Men’s

The men’s team is ranked ninth in the nation after being ranked third in the initial USTFCCCA preseason rankings. 

The Thunderbirds took third place in the ACCAC championships, winning three events.

Sophomore Jeremiah Reed won the long jump with a new personal record at 1.82 meters.

Sophomore Samuel Green won the 800 meter with a time of one minute, 52.76 seconds.

The 4×400 meter relay team made up of freshman Jace McGavock, sophomore Darius Brown, freshman Bradley Runge, and sophomore Ernest Green took first place with a time of 3:15.60.

NameEvent
Greyson Akers4×800 meter relay
Samuel Van Alstine4×800 meter relay
Jalen Bradford4×400 meter relay
Darius Brown4×400 meter relay
Ernest Green4×800 meter relay
Samuel Green800 meter 
Ousman Jagne4×400 meter relay
Jeremiah ReedLong jump
Jovani Rivera4×400 meter relay
Austin Rueff4×800 meter relay
Bradley RungeHeptathlon

The men’s track and field team athletes were awarded NJCAA All-American honors.

Both track and field teams will compete again at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California on April 11.

  • Adam Terro

    Adam Terro is the Sports Editor for the Mesa Legend. He joined the staff in January 2021 and first published with the Legend in fall 2020. His passion is for sports, specifically football and basketball.

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