CARY, N.C. – Paced by sophomores Ashley Jean-Raymond and Ashton Drake, the North Carolina Central University women's and men's cross country teams edged Gardner-Webb University in the team standings at the annual Adidas XC Challenge at WakeMed Soccer Park on Friday night.
 
Jean-Raymond placed 8th out of 99 women runners with a time of 19:30.4 on the 5k course. The next Lady Eagle to cross the finish line was freshman Ariana Harrell in 89th place with a time of 22:53.6.
 
In the women's team standings, NCCU finished eighth with 256 points, followed by ninth place Gardner-Webb with 260 points. N.C. State won the women's event with 18 points, followed by runner-up South Carolina with 59 points.
 
Drake finished in 59th place out of 87 men runners with a time of 20:14.7 on the 6k course. NCCU sophomore Mackenson Yrelus was the next Eagle to complete the race in 71st place at 21:10.4.
 
In the men's team results, NCCU placed ninth with 270 points, followed by 10th place Gardner-Webb with 296 points. Michigan won the men's competition with 17 points, followed by N.C. State in second place.
 
Up next, the NCCU cross country teams travel west for the Greensboro XC Invitational on Sept. 28, starting at 1 p.m.