SPARTANBURG, S.C. – North Carolina Central's Sharon Magut, Navi McDowell and Cynthia Koech each posted personal-best times at the Upstate Invite cross country meet on Saturday at Milliken Research Center.

Magut was NCCU's top finisher in the women's 5K, recording a time of 19:05.2. McDowell was close behind in 19:12.6 and Koech crossed the finish line in 20:24.6.

Magut and McDowell both finished in the top-third of the 309-runner field. Magut finished 83rd, McDowell placed 96th and Koech was 177th.

All three NCCU runners moved up the MEAC women's cross country rankings with the conference championships just two weeks away in Cary, N.C. Magut ranks fourth, McDowell sixth and Koech 12th.

In the men's 8K race, Ryan Chong was the Eagles' top finisher with a time of 29:40.2. Aaron Alukunyang, the MEAC's top-ranked 8K runner and winner of his previous four races, did not compete Saturday.

UP NEXT
The NCCU men and women will use the next 12 days to prepare for the MEAC Championships, which will be held Oct. 30 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.

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