WILMINGTON, N.C. – Sophomore Emmanuel Paddyfote and graduate student Laderique McNeill posted a pair of top-4 finishes in leading the North Carolina Central University men's cross country team to the UNCW Beach Blast title on Friday evening at Olsen Park.
 
All five scoring runners for NCCU finished in the top-15 as the Eagles claimed the team title at the UNCW Beach Blast for the second time in the past three years. The maroon and gray defeated six other teams, including the host Seahawks by just two points.
 
On the ladies' side, NCCU only had five runners. However, that quintet of Eagles all finished within 11 positions of each other to secure runner-up position for a third consecutive appearance in Wilmington.
 
Paddyfote improved on his rookie time at Olsen Park by more than 50 seconds to set a new personal PR time of 15:34. He was just about 11 seconds behind the winner in securing second overall, which is also a new personal best placement for the All-MEAC cross country performer.
 
McNeill made a strong debut for the Eagles as a transfer, crossing the finish line 10 seconds behind Paddyfote in fourth place overall. Freshman Ryan Chong (16:05), sophomore Corey Little (16:11) and freshman Donald Moore (16:17) concluded NCCU's scoring with top-15 finishes in the endurance race that had 49 finishers. Little matched Paddyfote in setting a new 5k PR while Chong and Moore were making their collegiate debuts. A couple of other freshmen also competed for the first time for the maroon and gray in Elmore Johnson III (19:44) and Ocir Black (23.28).
 
Moore was NCCU's fifth counting runner in the team standings and he finished two positions and just 16 seconds ahead of UNCW's fifth runner, which proved to be the critical two points to seal the maroon and gray victory with a team score of 37 compared to 39 by the Seahawks.
 
Junior Victoria Swepson and sophomore Gianna Marquez highlighted the women's race for NCCU. Swepson had the top time for the Eagles for a third straight UNCW Beach Blast, placing seventh in a time of 20:08. Marquez knocked 27 seconds off her freshman 5k PR time to finish eighth overall out of 28 runners with a time of 20:15.
 
Sophomore Laila Jackson (20:45) and junior Zinash Valen (20:50) followed closely in 13th and 14th place, respectively, as NCCU's top four runners all finished the 3.1-mile course within 45 seconds of each other. Junior Taylor Hanson (22:01) concluded NCCU's competition not long after in 17th position. Jackson set a new 5k PR and Valen was debuting for the Eagles as a transfer.
 
NC Central is competing on back-to-back weeks as the Eagles next return to the adidas XC Challenge hosted by North Carolina State University at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, on Friday, Sept. 15.
 
NCCU MEN'S 5K INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (49 finishers)
2. Emmanuel Paddyfote (15:34.74)
4. Laderique McNeill (15:44.03)
9. Ryan Chong (16:05.94)
12. Corey Little (16:11.74)
14. Donald Moore (16:17.75)
37. Elmore Johnson III (19:44.33)
47. Ocir Black (23:28.83)
 
NCCU WOMEN'S 5K INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (29 finishers)
7. Victoria Swepson (20:08.99)
8. Gianna Marquez (20:15.12)
13. Laila Jackson (20:45.24)
14. Zinash Valen (20:50.10)
17. Taylor Hanson (22.01.50)
 
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