DOVER, Del. – Bethune-Cookman University's Carlin Berryhill will defend his Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship Saturday at the Delaware State Outreach and Research Center.

The Women's 5K race is set for 11 a.m. followed by the Men's 8K at noon.

Berryhill became BCU's first individual champion last season. Repeating has been a goal all season, but ending his cross country career on a positive note is also a priority.  

"I know it won't be easy, but the goal is to always go for the win. When the race becomes challenging I'm just going to think about my teammates and who I do it for," Berryhill said. "I want to cross the line Saturday, repeat or not, knowing that I gave it my all in my last collegiate cross country race and have no regrets."

Head Coach Donald Cooper is confident about Berryhill and eager to see what a young Wildcat team paced by freshman DaMauri Little – grandson of Bethune-Cookman and Miami Dolphin football legend Larry Little -- can do.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Carlin defend his title," Cooper said. "We are not at full strength as a team with his twin brother Cameron out this cross country season. So we are going to see how competitive our young guys are. Little will lead that group of freshmen."

Senior Brittany Gill will lead the Lady Wildcat efforts.

"It's Brittany's last cross country race as well, so she is excited," Cooper said. "The rest of the team will be fighting to stay close to each other to put team in good position. I'm looking for Shyanne Mayes to live up to her season opener. [Distance Coach Graon] Jackson has been really pushing this group this year so I am expecting us to be very competitive."

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