CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Under the direction of first-year head coach Garon Jackson, Bethune-Cookman Cross Country travels out of state for the first time this season on Friday, Oct. 6, as the Wildcats travel to Charlotte, North Carolina to compete in the Royals Cross Country Challenge hosted by Queens University. The event takes place at McAlpine Creek Park.
 
On the women's side, the race will be run as a 5K in length. The men's race is an 8K course. The first race begins at 3:30 p.m.
 
As home of the Footlocker High School Southeast Championships, McAlpine Creek Park is a flat, firm, and fast course consisting of a wide crushed gravel path.
 
Scoring for the Royals Cross Country Challenge will be provided by Chip Timing.
 
COMPETING TEAMS
Allen
Anderson (S.C.)
Belmont Abbey
Benedict
Bethune-Cookman
Claflin
Coker
Jacksonville State
Johnson C. Smith
Limestone
Louisburg College
Mars Hill
Methodist
Piedmont
Presbyterian
SCAD-Savannah
Savannah State
South Carolina State
UNC Pembroke
USC-Beaufort
Valdosta State
 
LAST TIME OUT
It was Valencia Butler and Duane Lee leading the charge for Bethune-Cookman Cross Country in both the women's and men's events on Friday, Sept. 29, as the Wildcats participated in the Florida State Invite at Apalachee Regional Park. The Bethune-Cookman men finished 29th in the field, while the women placed 32nd overall on the day.
 
On the men's side, Bethune-Cookman fielded five runners on the day in what was an 8K race. The men had a total team score of 939 points – finishing in front of Edward Waters and Beacon College in the final points tally. The men were charged by Duane Lee, competing in his first event of the 2023 season, as he crossed the line with a time of 29:14.4. Sophomore Da'Quon King was second-fastest for the Wildcats with a time of 30:42.7. He was followed closely by his brother and teammate Ja'Quan King, who crossed in a mark of 30:48.4. Damaris Robinson, one of five sophomores on Garon Jackson's squad for the men, turned in a time of 35:00.7, while classmate Jonathan Gaines posted a finishing time of 35:39.5 on the day.
 
Over in the women's 5K race, BCU fielded five runners on the day. The Cats scored 1,037 points, finishing ahead of teams from Central Florida, Lake Sumter State and Edward Waters, respectfully. Valencia Butler, a sophomore from Augusta, Georgia, captured the top performance time for the Maroon and Gold as she finished in a time of 21:55.2 in the event. It would be Nyidjah Ives, another sophomore and one of four on the women's side, finishing with the second-fastest time for BCU in a mark of 23:04.9. She was followed by Caliyah Gee (26:46.4) and Jordan Singletary (28:07.6). The final runner for the women's team was Lauren Johnson, as the Memphis, Tennessee native registered a time of 32:21.8 overall.
 
THE SCHEDULE
For the complete list of events scheduled for both the men's and women's sides of Bethune-Cookman Cross Country, please click here.
 
UPCOMING FOR THE CATS
The Wildcats will conclude the regular season with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships in Tallahassee, Florida at Apalachee Regional Park. The event takes place Monday, Oct. 23, at 8 a.m.
 
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