MISENHEIMER, N.C.  The Methodist men's and women's cross country teams raced in a highly competitive field Friday afternoon at the Pfeiffer University Invitational. In a meet featuring programs from all three levels of the NCAA, the Monarch men finished sixth while the women placed ninth on the Pfeiffer University Cross Country Course.
 
THE ESSENTIALS
Event: Pfeiffer University Invitational (5k women, 8k men)
Location: Pfeiffer University Cross Country Course; Misenheimer, North Carolina
Top teams, women: 1 – Winthrop University (32 pts.), 2 – Meredith College (43 pts.), 3 – University of Mount Olive (84 pts.)
Top individuals, women: 1 – Delaney Bundy, Meredith (18:31.0), 2 – Anna Conrad, Winthrop (19:28.0), 3 – Kayah Marques, Winthrop (19:28.3)
Top teams, men: 1 – Pfeiffer (17 pts.), 2 – Mount Olive (62 pts.), 3 – Winthrop (67 pts.)
Top individuals, men: 1 – Sawyer Helms, Pfeiffer (25:17.8), 2 – Jorge Clemente-Garcia, Pfeiffer (26:07.0), 3 – Bricen Burleson, Pfeiffer (26:14.2)

MONARCH NOTES

• Freshman Chance McCubbin was the top Methodist finisher on the day, placing 22nd in the men's 8k with a time of 28:13.5. Senior Rafael Shilengitha followed in 34th after clocking a 29:28.4.
• Freshman Keon Lassiter (33:10.4) and sophomore Vondre Nelson (33:12.8) crossed back-to-back in 65th and 66th, while Xavier Wilborn, a sophomore, rounded out the men's scoring group in 83rd (37:01.9). 
• On the women's side, a trio of freshmen landed inside the top 45. Savanna Alvarado (37th; 24:00.6), Leilani Rankin (42nd; 24:44.6), and Yamile Lopez Dominguez (45th; 24:52.2) paced the Monarchs in the 5k. 
• Abigail Rowe placed 58th with a time of 28:02.2, followed closely by classmates Jayden Hoffman (62nd; 28:26.1) and Kamiya McNeill (64th; 28:47.4). 
• Senior Alyssa Cervantes (32:07.6) and junior Imani Kee (34:45.7) rounded out the women's lineup.

UP NEXT
Methodist will return to action on Friday, October 3, at the Ben Snelling Cancer Classic, hosted by Louisburg College. The meet is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start.