BALTIMORE, Md. (August 19, 2024)--Morgan State University head cross country coach Neville Hodge has unveiled the upcoming schedule for the 2025 season.
 
The five-meet slate features a combined three visits to fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference MEAC) foes, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) and Delaware State, followed by trips to Cary, N.C. and historic Gettysburg, Pa. to round out the regular season.
 
"The first part of the schedule will give us an opportunity to assess where we are in terms of our team chemistry and our level of fitness in preparation for the second half of a challenging schedule," said Hodge. "We are confident that we are up for the task come November 1, 2025."
 
Morgan State kicks off the season on Saturday, August 30 in Princess Anne, Md., when it takes part in the UMES Hawks Season Opener.
 
The following week the teams will head to Smyrna, Del. to compete in the Delaware State Invite on Saturday, Sept. 12, before returning to Princess Anne, Md. the next week to run in the UMES Soaring Hawks Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 20.
 
Morgan will begin the second half of the schedule with a trip to Cary, N.C. to compete in the HBCU Challenge on Oct. 3.
  
The Orange and Blue will wrap up the regular season on October 18 in Gettysburg, Pa., competing in the annual Aubrey Shenk Invitational, hosted by Gettysburg College.
 
This year the MEAC Cross Country Championship moves to Cary, N.C. and will take place on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, with North Carolina Central serving as host.
 
A year ago, the men's team placed fifth at the MEAC Championship in Smyrna, Del. Senior Perry Bennett led the Bears running a time of 25:45.6 to come in 12^th place, while Caleb Mincey capped off his freshman season placing 15^th, crossing the line in a time of 26:22.4. Both Bennett and Mincey would earn All-MEAC honors.   
 
"Our expectations are high as we have a strong core of freshmen that we added this season. We expect the team to compete at a high level despite the fact that we are a very young team," said Hodge. "We have a confident duo returning who will be leading the charge in Caleb Mincey and Samuel Skinner. We are confident that our returnees would be able to help motivate their new teammates to a productive and successful season."
 
Like the men, the Lady Bears too would be led by their senior, as Abigail Fisher would pace Morgan to a fourth-place finish at the 2024 MEAC Championship. Fisher, who was Morgan's top finisher in every meet last season, crossed the line in a time of 19:14.2 to place 14^th overall. She would earn All-MEAC honors.
 
"We expect the team to compete at a high level regardless of the conditions or situations that lie ahead," said Hodge. "Our returners play a vital role in helping to motivate their teammates to be their best daily in preparation for the big one come November 1, 2025. We are confident that our leaders will lead the team to a productive and successful season."


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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.