DARLINGTON, S.C. - The Methodist men's and women's cross-country teams collected personal bests individually at their concluding regular season event in the Coker Invitational, hosted by Coker University, with the men's squad finishing in 11th out of 13 teams while the women's team placed 12th out of 12 teams at their respective meets located at Darlington Raceway on Friday evening.
 
THE ESSENTIALS
Event: Coker Invitational (5k women; 8k men)
Location: Darlington Raceway; Darlington, S.C.
Top teams, women: 1 – USC Aiken (47 pts.), 2 – Lander (58 pts.), 3 – Lees-McRae (67 pts.)
Top individuals, women: 1 – Megan Knapp, Lees-McRae (17:55.0), 2 –Carly Fuel, Lander (17:56.8), 3 – Elizabeth Young, Belmont Abbey (18:02.8)
Top teams, men: 1 – Belmont Abbey (46 pts.), 2 – Lees-McRae (58 pts.), 3 – Lander (72 pts.)
Top individuals, men: 1 – Michael Bullock, Belmont Abbey (25:23.3), 2 – Salisu Habibu, Allen (25:44.5), 3 – Martin O'Rourke, Belmont Abbey (25:51.4)
 
MONARCH NOTES

• Sophomore Thomas Hanson was the top Methodist finisher on the men's side, ranking out with a personal best time of 29:22.4 in 54th place. Freshman Randy Desjardin would follow suit in 81st position logging a PR of 30:46.4.
• Freshman Me'Lik McLaughlin and Jeremiah Reynolds rounded out in 95th and 96th, respectively, each marking out within five seconds of each other at times of 34:07.1 and 34:12.5, with McLaughlin concluding the race at a new personal best time. Sophomore J'Quez Jackson rounded out the male placements for the Monarchs, ranking out with a time of 41:44.0 in 107th place.
• Freshman Alexandria Manuel concluded the female race as the lone Monarchs top 30 placement with a PR time of 22:02.2 in 30th position. Sophomore Mally King would follow suit, ranking out in 60th on the leaderboard with a concluding personal best time of 24:34.7. 
• Freshman Kahleina Vereen rounded out in 72nd place with a closing time of 26:48.7 while freshman Jailynn Russ wrapped up the Coker Invite in 86th with a PR time of 28:32.4. Seniors Sanaia Hill and Imani Kee concluded Methodist's female finishers, ranking out in 90th and 92nd respectively, with Hill earning a personal best time of 29:23.7, while Kee finished the race at 35:53.6.

UP NEXT
The Monarchs travel to Brevard College for the 2026 USA South Cross Country Championships on Friday, October 30th, with the first race slated for 10:00 AM.