WILMINGTON, N.C. – North Carolina Central standout runners Emmanuel Paddyfote and Alitza Dennard were individual winners in their respective races in the UNCW Beach Blast 5K cross country meet at Veterans Park on Saturday.

Paddyfote finished first in the men's 5K race in 15:32.77 to lead the Eagles to victory in the team standings. Dennard ran a winning time of 19:33.96 in the women's 5K race to spark NCCU to a second-place finish.

NOTES

• N.C. Central scored 50 points to beat seven teams in the men's 5K race. The N.C. State Club team was second with 66 points and UNC Wilmington placed third with 86 points.
• Avan Hinkle was fifth in the individual standings in 16:18.13 and Ryan Chong finished sixth in 16:19.14.
• Evans Kimutai was 15^th in 16:52.71 and Juan Tinajero finished 23^rd in 17:20.16 for the Eagles. Sixty-eight (68) runners competed in the men's 5K.
• The Eagles scored 55 points to place second out of seven teams in the women's 5K. UNC Wilmington was first with 31 points and Presbyterian placed third with 79 points.
• Three NCCU runners placed in the top 10 individually. In addition to Dennard, Kayla Johnson finished ninth in 20:12.07 and Laila Jackson finished 10^th in 20:15.07.
• Navi McDowell placed 17^th in 20:59.71 while Gianna Marquez and Victoria Swepson were 27^th and 28^th, respectively. Marquez ran a time of 21:53.15 and Swepson posted a time of 21:53.43. Fifty-one (51) competitors ran in the women's 5K.

UP NEXT
The Eagles will compete in the adidas Cross Country Challenge on Friday, Sept. 19, at WakeMed Soccer Park. The men's 6K race starts at 5:15 p.m. followed by the women's 5K race at 5:55 p.m.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.