Huntsville, Alabama - In an exhilarating display of grit and determination, the Trinidad State College Men's Cross Country team emerged victorious at the 2023 NJCAA National Championship held in Huntsville, Alabama, this Saturday morning. The Trojans' stellar performance marked a historic achievement for the team, securing their first-ever NJCAA Championship in Cross Country.
The race kicked off on the picturesque grass fields of John Hunt Park, with the Trinidad State Trojans positioning themselves at the forefront of the large pack of runners. Coach Lauren Masterson's strategy was evident as the Trojans asserted themselves as the aggressors from the starting gun. Masterson explained, "Our plan was to be at the front of the race from the beginning, pushing the pace and forcing everyone else to get out of their comfort zone and off their own race plans. Our guys are the type who want to run hard all day every day, so we took that personality to our racing style all season, and especially here in the biggest race of the season."
Key runners Kidus Misgina and Hanibal Haile, who consistently led the Trojans in nearly every meet this season, played pivotal roles as the team's "low-sticks," contributing significantly to the team's success. The duo's communication and encouragement to their teammates were palpable in the early miles, setting the tone for the Trojans' dominance. Kameron Eustace sat only seconds behind his teammates in a second pack of runners between places fifteen and twenty. Vincent Kipchirchir stalked Eustace with Ayub Sayid, the final scoring Trojan, a little farther back around 30th place. Kyle Awelagte and Daniel Recio provided insurance for Trinidad State in the top 40 places.
As the race progressed, a race that looked to be a four team race coming into the Championship event shaped up to be a two team race. Trinidad State found itself engaged in a fierce battle with Salt Lake Community College for the national title. Despite signs of fatigue in the later miles, the Trojans persevered and fought on, maintaining their lead despite Salt Lake athletes moving up through the field. Misgina recorded Trinidad State's highest finish ever in the event. He took the lead several times, trying to drop the runners behind him before two runners got past him in the final mile. Haile's performance was no less impressive as he bounced between fifth to eighth place, taking turns with his competitors pushing the pace and attempting to pull away from each other. In the final 400 meters Haile escaped two of them to record sixth place and give the team vital low scoring points.
Kameron Eustace came through for the team in 17th place. He was challenged by multiple runners in the final miles as they tried to overtake the sophomore from Zuni, New Mexico but Eustace would not relent and sprinted to a 17th place finish. Vincent Kipchirchir proved himself a clutch competitor as he sprinted from 23rd place to 20th place in the final 100 meters, a six-point swing for the team that gave them a much needed boost in scoring. It wasn't long before Ayub Sayid finished in 29th place and capped off the Trojan's scoring runners. Kyle Awelagte ran a sensational race and his fastest time ever as the sixth runner for the Champions. Daniel Recio came across the finish line in 48th place, a huge improvement from his finish last year.
The scores were nail-bitingly close, with Trinidad State claiming victory with 71 points, just ahead of Salt Lake's 78. Colby Community College secured third place with 102 points, while New Mexico Junior College, the pre-meet favorites, finished in fourth place. Coach Lauren Masterson, recognized as the Men's Coach of the Meet, celebrated her second NJCAA triumph, the first being in 2020 when the Women's Half Marathon team clinched the school's inaugural title.
"This is a special group of athletes," Coach Masterson remarked. "They set a goal at the beginning of the season to win a title. They faced adversity in many ways and had plenty of reasons to give up on that goal, but they never wavered in their belief that they could accomplish this. We are so very proud of them."
Misgina, Haile, Eustace,Kipchirchir and Sayid each earned All-American honors.
The Trojans' journey doesn't end here, as they face a quick turnaround with another challenge on the horizon. The team will be back in action on Tuesday morning in the NJCAA Half Marathon National Championships, eager to build on their recent success and continue their impressive run on the national stage. The Trinidad State College Men's Cross Country team has not only secured a championship but has set the stage for a promising future in collegiate cross country.
Trinidad State Results
Kidus Misgina - 3rd Place - 23:30
Hanibal Haile - 6th Place - 23:50
Kameron Eustace - 17th Place - 24:30
Vincent Kipchirchir - 20th Place - 24:40
Ayub Sayid - 29th Place - 24:56
Kyle Awelagte - 40th Place - 25:22
Daniel Recio - 48th Place - 25:42