BLACKSBURG, Va. – For a fourth consecutive race to conclude his rookie season, freshman Emmanuel Paddyfote led the North Carolina Central University men's cross country team to the finish line as the Eagles competed in the Hokie Open hosted by Virginia Tech University on Friday afternoon.
 
In the shorter event that gives some runners a last chance to race before the NCAA regionals, NC Central was just one of two programs to compete as a team and the Eagles No. 12 nationally-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
 
Paddyfote, who earned All-MEAC honors a week earlier for his top-10 performance in the MEAC Championships, completed the Buford Meredith XC 6k Course in 21:29 to finish 27th out of 35 finishers.
 
NCCU next four runners all finished within 40 seconds of each other to round of the maroon and gray team scoring, including senior Isaiah Hunter (22:00), freshman Corey Little (22:03), senior Ashton Drake (22:05) and freshman Octavious Smith (22:38).
 
The Tar Heels won the team title with freshman Walker St. John leading the way for UNC with a first-place finish time of 18:19.
 
NC Central will next begin its indoor track and field season with its 2022-23 schedule to be announced soon.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
 
NCCU MEN'S 8K INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (35 Finishers)
27. Emmanuel Paddyfote (21:29.5)
29. Isaiah Hunter (22:00.7)
30. Corey Little (22:03.8)
31. Ashton Drake (22:05.0)
33. Octavious Smith (22:38.6)
35. Melchoir Ellis (26:54.1)