JOHNSON C. SMITH ATHLETICS

Cary, NC - The Johnson C. Smith University women's cross country team finished fifth with a score of 145, while the men's team finished sixth with a score of 147 at the CIAA Cross Country Championships held at Wake Med Soccer Park.

Junior Jesseca Gray (Mount Vernon, NY) was the first Lady Golden Bull to cross the finish line, completing the five kilometer run in a time of 23.08.1 for 22nd place. Junior Shermaine Williams (St. Andrews, Jamaica) was 24th with a time of 23.20.1 and junior Nada Al-Arahshun (Tulsa, OK) concluded the meet with a time of 23.26.4 for 28th place to round out the top three JCSU runners.

Junior Jonathan Jackson (Cheltenham, PA) was the first finisher from the men's team with a time of 31.00.6. Kent King and Jamille Callum finished right behind Jackson with times of 31.01.0 and 31.03.4, respectively.

The Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Falcons both tied for first place in the women's 5K run with 44 points. Virginia State was third with 59 points followed by Shaw (112), Johnson C. Smith (145), Saint Paul's (147), Livingstone (203), Fayetteville State (224), Virginia Union (233) and Elizabeth City State (287).

The Bulldogs scored 42 points in the men's 8K race to finish ahead of Saint Augustine's College (67) and Virginia State University (83). Shaw placed fourth with 103 points followed by Virginia Union University (126), Johnson C. Smith University (147), Saint Paul's College (171), Livingstone College (177), Fayetteville State University (268) and Elizabeth City State University (272).

The JCSU cross country teams next compete at the NCAA Division II Regional, which will be held at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania on November 7th.