2025 Morgan State Cross Country Season Recap

2025 Morgan State Cross Country Season Recap

11/21/2025 11:00:00 AM

BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 20, 2025) -- The Morgan State cross country program closed the book on a standout 2025 campaign defined by steady growth, unwavering resilience, and impressive performances from start to finish. From the opening meet of the fall to the final strides at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship, the Bears displayed continual improvement, strong team chemistry, and a competitive edge that elevated the program throughout the season.
 
Women's Season Highlights

• Top Performers:
Junior Crystal Coke and senior Aaliyah Headley consistently paced the Bears throughout the fall, delivering strong finishes at every meet. The duo built momentum at the Aubrey Shenk Invitational (6K) on October 18, where Coke posted a season-best 23:56.3, followed closely by Headley with a season-best 24:49.3.

Their fall campaign culminated in standout performances at the MEAC Championship. Coke led the Lady Bears with a personal-best 19:24.5 to place 15th overall and earn All-MEAC honors, while Headley capped her season with a strong showing of 20:05.8 in the 5K.

• Breakout Runner:
Freshman standout Natalia Eastman delivered one of the team's most impressive climbs, shattering her previous personal best of 23:58.0 in the 5K and clocking a remarkable 21:24.4 by season's end in the MEAC Championships.

• Notable Season Bests:
Men's Season Highlights

• Top Performer:
Sophomore Caleb Mincey powered the Bears throughout the season, delivering steady top-tier finishes and posting a season-best 25:35.8 in the 8K at the MEAC Championship, where he earned All-MEAC honors, alongside freshman teammate Natnael Gebremariam.

• Breakout Runner:
Sophomore Samuel Skinner emerged as one of the squad's biggest risers, stacking major personal records—including a standout 16:14.8 effort in the 5K at the UMES Hawks Season Opener on August 30. He also posted a season-best 26:41.2 in the 8K at the MEAC Championships.

• Notable Season Bests: Beyond times and placements, this season showcased the team's unwavering resilience. The Bears embraced early-morning training sessions, demanding courses, and the mental grind of the long season—emerging stronger, more confident, and more connected than ever.
 
Head coach Neville Hodge reflected on the year's growth and momentum:

"The season was very productive in the sense that almost all of our student-athletes posted personal-best performances. We didn't meet our overall team goal, but we see tremendous potential knowing that three-fourths of the roster is made up of freshmen and sophomores."

"We also had three student-athletes earn All-MEAC honors—on the men's side, Caleb Mincey and Natneal Greberimariem, and on the women's side, Crystal Coke," Hodge added.

"The future is bright for the Morgan State University XC program. Go Bears!"


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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. 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.
 
 
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