National champs moving to the next level

Only months after leading the Ranger College to their first-ever cross country national championship, the Lady Rangers' history-making squad is ready to write new chapters in their careers. Last week, five members of the 2020 NJCAA championship squad signed collegiate deals with larger programs.

"We are thrilled for them," said RC head coach Kathy Graham. "They have each proven they can run with the nation's best. We are excited to see how they do at the next level."

Sophomores Natali Mireles, Kaylyn De La Rosa and Fae Gonzalez highlighted the recent signings. A native of Edcouch, Texas, Mireles signed to run this fall at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. At ECU, she will be joining an NCAA Division II program that has been among the top squads in the Great American Conference.

De La Rosa, a standout from Rio Grande City, Texas, who anchored the women's 4x800-meter All-American relay squad, signed to compete for Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico. At ENMU, she will be joining a Greyhounds' NCAA Division II program that participates in the Lone Star Conference.

Gonzalez, a native of Corpus Christi, signed with Cameron University after a standout career at RC. She leaves as the school's record-holder in the 10,000-meter race.

At Cameron, Gonzalez will compete in the same conference as De La Rosa.

Cameron, a 4-year program in Lawton, Oklahoma, also landed another RC standout in Melohdee Marroquin. A freshman from Edinburg, Texas, she was a member of the Lady Rangers' Al-American 4x800-meter relay team.

Alexa Reyes rounded out the signings by landing at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Reyes, who also ran on the 4x800-meter relay team, will be joining a TAMU-Kingsville program that competes in the Lone Star Conference.

The lone member of the Lady Rangers' national championship squad set to return this fall will be sophomore Jessica Thomas-Billot. A two-time All-American, Thomas-Billot was the team's top finisher in the NJCAA National meet.

Thomas-Billot is a native of Castelnaudary, France.