BALTIMORE, Md. (Oct. 3, 2025) -- The week of well-deserved rest is officially in the rearview mirror as the cross-country team now shifts its focus to the challenges ahead. This upcoming event, the prestigious HBCU Challenge in Cary, North Carolina, represents a significant benchmark on their season schedule, promising a tough field against which they can truly measure their early progress and endurance.
This competition marks a significant mid-season test, and the team carries a wave of momentum from their previous outing, where the women's squad delivered an impressive performance, securing second place overall. Leading the charge in that strong showing was Crystal Coke, who clocked a swift 20:22.77, earning a fourth-place finish as the top Bear. Hot on her heels were Aaliyah Headly, securing fifth place with a time of 20:49.36, and Hemetii Apet, rounding out the top pack in sixth place at 20:51.35, setting a high bar for the team as they prepare to take on the field in Cary.
The men's team also proved their mettle in their previous race, battling fiercely to earn a respectable third-place finish with a total of 45 points. A key driver of their success was Natnael Gebremariam, who claimed a strong fourth-place position with a time of 29:00.35. His performance was bolstered by the efforts of Samuel Skinner, who finished right behind him in fifth at 29:07.23, and Caleb Mincy, who crossed the line in sixth place with a time of 29:37.76.
With renewed energy and momentum from their individual successes, both teams are ready to deliver another strong showing at the HBCU Challenge.
As the teams prepare for this significant test in Cary, Head Coach Neville Hodge emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming race. "This week is the time for us to show up and show out in preparation for Championships week," Coach Hodge stated.
"We are about to face one of our biggest challenges thus far this season. However, every challenge will remind us that obstacles are temporary. Still, we are determined to overcome those difficulties because if we aren't willing to show up during challenging times, we will never be great."
Fueled by this mindset, both the men's and women's teams are eager to test themselves in North Carolina, with competition set to start at 5:00 p.m.
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ABOUT THE MEET
The HBCU Challenge is held in conjunction with the Great American Cross Country Festival, set for Friday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 4, in Cary, N.C. The Great American Cross Country Festival is a major national invitational event that features collegiate, high school, and middle school races.
Men's and women's teams scheduled to run in the HBCU meet include Elizabeth City State, Fayetteville State, Livingstone, Morgan State, North Carolina A&T, Shaw, South Carolina State (men), Maryland Eastern Shore, Virginia State, Virginia Union, and Winston-Salem State, in addition to North Carolina Central.
FREE LIVESTREAM
Free livestream will be available on runnerspace.com. Click HERE.
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Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master's degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
