North Carolina Central University

CROSS COUNTRY

     LUMBERTON, NC -- The North Carolina Central University women won the UNC Pembroke Cross Country Invitational, topped by a first-place individual effort by junior Yolanda Barber, at Luther Britt Park in Lumberton, N.C.
     Barber, the two-time defending conference champion, finished the 5k-course in 19 minutes, 28.24 seconds, nearly 17 seconds ahead of second place Irene Jeptolo of Winston-Salem State University (19:45.19).
     NCCU posted five of the top 10 runners, with Ashley Cooke placing third (20:07.78), Desinia Johnson finishing fifth (20:49.20), LaTanya Lesine finishing seventh (20:59.98), and Aisha Brown placing 10th (21:14.05).
     NCCU, the reigning CIAA women's champions, totaled 26 points to beat out second place UNC Pembroke (58 points), Francis Marion University (77), Saint Augustine's College (96), Winston-Salem State (97), and Shaw University (148).
     The NCCU men placed fifth in the six-team field. Robert Curington led the Eagles with an eighth-place finish and a time of 29:13.26 on the 8k-course.

NCCU Women's Individual Results (5k)
Yolanda Barber (1st) 19:28.24
Ashley Cooke (3rd) 20:07.78
Desinia Johnson (5th) 20:49.20
LaTanya Lesine (7th) 20:59.98
Aisha Brown (10th) 21:14.05
Lakisha Gantt (15th) 22:28.27

Women's Team Results
1st - North Carolina Central (26 points)
2nd - UNC Pembroke (58)
3rd - Francis Marion (77)
4th - St. Augustine's (96)
5th - Winston-Salem State (97)
6th - Shaw (148)

NCCU Men's Indivdual Results (8k)
Robert Curington (8th) 29:13.26
Adam Cofield (12th) 29:35.05
Marlin White (16th) 31:10.93
Reginald Lochard (31st) 34:13.30
Shareef Muhammad (36th) 36:25.05

Men's Team Results
1st - St. Augustine's (41 points)
2nd - Francis Marion (63)
3rd - UNC Pembroke (86)
4th - Winston-Salem State (93)
5th - North Carolina Central (103)
6th - Shaw (109)