DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central will head to the Upstate Invite on Saturday for its final cross country meet of the regular season. The women's 5K race starts at 9 a.m. followed by the men's 8K race at 9:45 a.m. at the Milliken Research Center in Spartanburg, S.C.

The Eagles' men and women will compete in a challenging field of over 40 teams including North Carolina Division I programs Duke, Davidson, Gardner-Webb, Queens (N.C.), UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington and Western Carolina. MEAC member South Carolina State will also compete.

The Upstate Invite will help the Eagles prepare for the MEAC Championships, which will be held Oct. 30 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Saturday's meet is also the site of the NCAA Division I Southeast Regional, which will be held Nov. 13.

The Eagles are led by Aaron Alukunyang, who was named MEAC Men's Runner of the Week for the second time this season after winning the men's 8K at the Lancer Pink Invitational. Alukunyang, the MEAC's top-ranked runner, has won all four of his races this season, tying the program's Division I single-season record for victories.

On the women's side, Navi McDowell was selected MEAC Women's Runner of the Week after finishing 15^th out of 50 runners in the women's 5K at the Lancer Pink Invitational. She ranks ninth in the MEAC and teammates Sharon Magut and Cynthia Koech are ranked 10^th and 12^th, respectively.

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