GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina Central University men's and women's cross country teams earned victories at the Greensboro XC Invitational on Saturday evening. The men's unit got the best of North Carolina Wesleyan College, Fayetteville State University, and Livingstone College, while the women defeated the same schools in addition to Winston-Salem State University.
The men's unit impressively swept the top seven places in the university 8k race. Seniors
Ashton Drake and
Juan Rodriguez finished the course in 27:26.86 and 27:41.13 to place first and second, respectively. With this time, Drake sets a new personal-best in the event, beating his mark from the 2019 MEAC Championships.
Sophomore
Leroy Scarver was the third Eagle to cross the finish line with a time of 28:11.60, while junior
Isaiah Hunter ran the course in 28:15.77 to finish fourth. Like Drake, Hunter finished the event with a personal-best mark that beat out his time from the 2019 MEAC Championships.
Three Eagles finished the race in just over 30 minutes to round out the top finishes for the team. Senior
Mackenson Yrelus finished in 30:16.19 to earn fifth place. Freshman
Alex Garcia obtained sixth place after finishing the race in 30:20.20, while senior
Joshua McLean ran the course in 30:24.79 to place seventh.
The NCCU women's team was spearheaded by event winner freshman
Victoria Swepson, who was the only individual to run the women's university 5k event under 21 minutes, by posting a time of 20:13.20. Freshman
Elan Booker ran the course in 21:39.38 to finish sixth and senior
Chayil Townsend achieved 10th place after posting a time of 22:18.99 to set a new personal-best. Junior
Laniyah Oliver also set a new personal-best by finishing the course in 23:31.58.
The Eagles will return to action at the Great American XC Festival/Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on Oct 2.
NCCU Top-10 Performances
Men's 8k
Ashton Drake (1
st) 27:26.86
Juan Rodriguez (2
nd) 27:41.13
Leroy Scarver (3
rd) 28:11.60
Isaiah Hunter (4
th) 28:15.77
Mackenson Yrelus (5
th) 30:16.19
Alex Garcia (6
th) 30:20.20
Joshua McLean (7
th) 30:24.79
Women's 5k
Victoria Swepson (1
st) 20:13.20
Elan Booker (6
th) 21:39.38
Chayil Townsend (10
th) 22:18.99
-EAGLE PRIDE-
