Men's Cross Country 10/17/2026 10:00:00 AM MSU Athletics Communications

Men’s Cross Country Gears Up for MEAC Championships at Final Tuneup

PRINCETON, N.J. (October 16, 2026) -- Morgan State men's cross country completed its final tune-up before the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships, competing Friday at the Joe Handelman '52 Fall Classic hosted by Princeton University.

The meet provided the Bears with one final opportunity to test themselves against strong competition and prepare for the postseason. Morgan State previously competed at the Richmond Invitational earlier this month.

"This week's race was all about seeing how we match up against some strong, competitive cross country programs," said Morgan State head coach Neville Hodge. "The course was challenging, but we competed to the best of our ability with the intention of using this meet as preparation for the MEAC Cross Country Championships."

Sophomore Natnael Gebremariam led the Bears on the men's side, finishing 139th in 26:45.7 on the 8k course. Freshman Noel Cyrus Jr. followed in 173rd place in 29:01.0, while freshman Isaiah Smith finished in 29:15.4 (174^th). Freshmen Shondell Warren and Johnathan Marsh ran a 30:00.3 (177^th) and 31:46.4 (178^th), respectively.

With the regular season complete, Morgan State will turn its attention to the MEAC Cross Country Championships on October 30 in Cary, N.C., where the Bears will look to close out the season with a strong performance against the conference's top competition.

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ABOUT MORGAN
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.

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Players Mentioned

Natnael Gebremariam: Freshman

Isaiah Smith: Freshman

Shondell Warren: Freshman

Noel Cyrus Jr.: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Natnael Gebremariam
: Freshman

Isaiah Smith
: Freshman

Shondell Warren
: Freshman

Noel Cyrus Jr.
: Freshman