SMYRNA, Del. – The North Carolina Central University men's and women's cross country teams travel to Delaware State University's race course for the 2024 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 2. The men are set to kick off the championships in an 8K race at 11 a.m. and the women will follow in a 5K race at noon.
RACE DETAILS:
Saturday, Nov. 2 in Smyrna, Del.
DSU's Outreach & Research Center
Men's 8K Race – 11 a.m.
ESPN+ | Live Results
Women's 5K Race – 12 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Results
NCCU Men's Team
The men's cross country team has finished in the top 10 in every race that they've competed in as a full team. Their best finish was first at the Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge with seven runners competing.
Freshman Meshack Kuyo and Emmanuel Paddyfote have been pacing the Eagles all season. Both student-athletes have finished different 8K races under the 25-minute mark this fall. Paddyfote earned All-MEAC team honors at last year's conference championship. Kuyo has continued to break school records in his first cross country season.
Newcomers Sebastian Dozier and Evans Kimutai have also been close to the under 25-minute mark as both had their best finishes at the Royals Challenge in early October. Listed below are the top individual times for the Eagles this season.
Top Individual 8K Times this Season:
Ryan Chong – 26:12.7 at Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge (Oct. 4)
Sebastian Dozier – 25:59.3 at Royals Challenge (Oct. 11)
Wesley Kibet – 29:00.5 at Royals Challenge (Oct. 11)
Evans Kimutai – 25:36.4 at Royals Challenge (Oct. 11)
Meshack Kuyo – 23:54.7 at Royals Challenge (Oct. 11)
Corey Little – 27:56.0 at Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge (Oct. 4)
Emmanuel Paddyfote – 24:57.9 at Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge (Oct. 4)
Octavious Smith – 28:48.2 at Royals Challenge (Oct. 11)
NCCU Women's Team
The women's cross country team placed second in two races this season with five finishers in the season opener at the UNCW Beach Blast and six finishers at the Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge in October.
Four Eagles have finished under the 20-minute mark in the 5K race. Transfers Alitza Dennard and Kayla Johnson and freshman Sharon Magut lowered their times throughout the season with their best performances at the Royals Challenge to end the regular season.
Laila Jackson's best finish this season was at the Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge. The junior finished with All-MEAC team honors in last year's championship alongside Gianna Marquez. Listed below are the top individual times for the Eagles this season.
Top Individual 5K Times this Season:
Alitza Dennard – 18:55.0 at Royals Challenge (Oct. 11)
Taylor Hanson – 23:14.2 at Royals Challenge (Oct. 11)
Laila Jackson – 19:31.1 at Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge (Oct. 4)
Kayla Johnson – 19:26.1 at Royals Challenge (Oct. 11)
Sharon Magut – 19:56.8 at Royals Challenge (Oct. 11)
Gianna Marquez – 20:32.7 at Wilmington Beach Blast (Sept. 6)
Navi McDowell – 21:59.6 at Royals Challenge (Oct. 11)
MEAC All-Academic Honors
Ahead of the race, the MEAC announced the 2024 Cross Country All-Academic honorees. To qualify, student-athletes from MEAC schools must be sophomores, juniors or seniors with a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average during the 2023-24 school year. Transfers who have been at their institution for at least one year are also eligible.
Seven Eagles received this honor as Ryan Chong, Corey Little, Emmanuel Paddyfote, Octavious Smith, Taylor Hanson, Laila Jackson and Victoria Swepson were named to the MEAC All-Academic team.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
