CARY, N.C. – Senior Gregory Coward topped North Carolina Central University with an 11th-place finish out of 109 runners at the annual Robert Shumake HBCU Cross Country Challenge at Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 1.
 
Coward, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, finished the 8k race in 27:22.7.
 
Deandre James was the next Eagle to cross the line in the 26th position with a time of 29:09.4. Orane Morais placed 42nd in 30:24.5, followed by Phillip Robinson-Hayes in 47th at 30:44.6.
 
NCCU's other men's competitors were James Johnson, (32:08.5, 61st), Jahmon Allen (32:13.4, 63rd), and Victor Dunbar (35:13.7, 81st).
 
The NCCU women were led by freshman Nakai Matthews (Copiague, N.Y.) with a 22nd-place performance out of 111 competitors and a time of 21:41.6 on the 5k course.
 
Kiana Seabrook finished next for the Lady Eagles in 35th place with a time of 22:28.0, while Jaleesa Smoot (24:51.3) and Shania Nicely (25:02.8) finished 68th and 71st, respectively.
 
The other Lady Eagle runners were Lovasia Thomas (25:47.3, 78th) and Star Satterwhite (26:01.5, 81st).
 
In the Division I team standings, the NCCU men finished third of three teams with North Carolina A&T edging Hampton to win the event, while the NCCU women placed fourth out of four teams with Hampton beating out N.C. A&T and Morgan State placing third.