FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  For the first time since the fall of 2021, Methodist University men's and women's cross teams hosted a home meet on campus. The event, which took place on Friday, September 6, featured the Monarchs and several NCAA Division II institutions.

THE ESSENTIALS
Event: Downback Invitational (4K women, 6K men)
Location: Methodist University golf course; Fayetteville, North Carolina
Top teams, women: 1 – Francis Marion University (23 pts.), 2 – Methodist (58), 3 – Coker University (65)
Top individuals, women: 1 – Ja'llian Paige, Louisburg College (16:45.64), 2 – Rowan Hearn, FSU (18:30.47), 3 – Olivia Durham, Coker (18:40.69)
Top teams, men: 1 – Louisburg (41 pts.), 2 – Barton College (54), 3 – Methodist (58)
Top individuals, men: 1 – Derrick Harris, Louisburg (20:33.46), 2 – Jack Barriger, Methodist (20:39.64), 3 – Jacob Oliver, Barton (20:56.62)

MONARCH NOTES

• Following an excellent debut race, freshman Emma Wilson produced another great run of 19 minutes, 5.72 seconds, and earned herself a fourth-place finish. Competing in her first-ever cross country meet, Treazure Rosario Watson found herself within the top 15 after she crossed the line with a time of 21:31.13.
• Niya Johnson (23:28.75) and Patti Busch (23:40.37) finished within 12 seconds of each other, respectively in 19^th and 20^th place, while a two-second difference separated Imani Kee (25:09.33) and Alyssa Cervantes (25:11.48).
• It was a great men's race for Jack Barriger, who ran a 20:39.64. Not only did he come in second place, but he also recorded the first sub-21-minute time of his collegiate career, in the 6K. Coming in fourth, Rafael Shilengitha ran a new personal best following a time of 21:09.86.
• Along with Barriger and Shilengitha, Logan Williams completed his best 6K time of his career, a 21:43.85, while claiming tenth overall.
• This meet was the collegiate debut for freshman Jadon Triola, who finished the course in 23:50.46 and came in 18^th place. About 40 seconds after Triola, Landon Faircloth crossed the line with a time of 24:30.80, which is a minute faster than his previous 6K personal record.
• The final three Methodist runners were Komla Akogo (28:34.39), Damian Jefferson (31:33.00), and Alex Fritz (33:51.02).

UP NEXT
The next meet for Methodist is scheduled for Saturday, September 14, as the Monarchs compete in the Pfeiffer University Invitational. The race is set to begin at 10 AM.