FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  The Methodist men's and women's cross country teams played host on Friday when teams from around the region came to compete at the second annual Downback Invitational. The meet, hosted on Methodist University's Downback Golf Course, included four teams in the women's 4k, four teams in the men's 6k and partial teams and individuals in both races.
 
In the men's race, Methodist's Rafael Shilengitha captured first place with a time of 21:26.05, making a pass for the top spot just before the final straightaway and narrowly edging out second place by less than two seconds.
 


THE ESSENTIALS
Event: Downback Invitational (4k women, 6k men)
Location: Methodist University Downback Golf Course; Fayetteville, North Carolina
Top teams, women: 1 – Coker University (35 pts.), 2 – Meredith College (37 pts.), 3 – Methodist University (50 pts.)
Top individuals, women: 1 – Addison Doran, Meredith (16:46.98), 2 – Jimena Sierra, Coker (17:46.09), 3 – Shaianne Wiley, Shaw University (18:06.62)
Top teams, men: 1 – Coker (26 pts.), 2 – Methodist (46 pts.), 3 – Shaw (51 pts.)
Top individuals, men: 1 – Rafael Shilengitha, Methodist (21:26.05), 2 – Ian Halle, Coker (21:27.91), 3 – Cody Stewart, Coker (22:30.06)

MONARCH NOTES

• On the women's side, Methodist had two finishers inside the top 10. Savanna Alvarado took sixth with a time of 18:53.30, while Yamile Lopez Dominguez claimed ninth (19:35.44). After a strong start to the race, Leilani Rankin slowed her pace but still earned a 12th–place finish (20:47.12) with Treazure Rosario Watson close behind (20:55.25) in 14th. Abigail Rowe was the final Monarch to count towards the team score, taking 18th place with a time of 22:21.30.
• Other finishers for the Methodist women's team were Jayden Hoffman (24:54.46), Alyssa Cervantes (26:49.83) and Imani Kee (29:31.16).
• After leading the early portion of the men's race, freshman Chance McCubbin collected a sixth–place finish in his first collegiate action, clocking in at 23:24.73. Keon Lassiter was next to finish for Methodist, taking 11th with a time of 25:38.77.
• Next in line was Vondre Nelson, whose time of 27:05.44 was good enough for 13th. Xavier Wilborn rounded out the scorers for Methodist's men's squad with his 17th–place time of 30:04.76. The team's final finisher was Damian Jefferson, who posted a time of 33:03.02.

UP NEXT
The Monarchs will compete next at the Pfeiffer University Invitational on Friday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. in Misenheimer.