Men's Cross Country 10/3/2025 4:18:00 PM

Cross Country teams show vast improvement with performances at Osprey Invitational and Queensborough Invite

The Medgar Evers College men's and women's cross country teams competed in three meets in recent weeks. Back on September 20, the squads traveled to Galloway, NJ to participate in the Osprey Open. Eight days later (9/28), the Cougars ran in a dual meet, competing in the Queensborough Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park, while also racing Lehman College head-to-head. During that period, the student-athletes put forth many notable performances, as the teams continue to improve as the CUNYAC championship meet approaches.

Coach Reid's Quote about Osprey Invitational

"Our student-athletes showed tremendous grit this weekend on the Richard Stockton course—the same one where they'll return for Regionals," Head Coach Hugh Reid said. "Brianna Lindo and Nana Samake both surpassed the qualifying time, with Lindo running the third-fastest time in school history, and Duranya Gayle adding the 10th-fastest. The women averaged under the team qualifying standard, which is a very encouraging sign for what's ahead. On the men's side, Joshua Felix and Chrisnel Nicolas ran gutsy PRs of 35:24.7 and 35:27.8—good for the seventh and ninth fastest times ever in MEC history, respectively. We still have a lot of work to do, but this group is hungry, motivated, and determined to leave their mark on the program as we build toward CUNYACs."

Women's Placements at Osprey Invitational

Despite the fact that the Cougars did not score in the Osprey Invitational, Lindo put forth a dazzling performance in the 6K meet, finishing 68^th overall out of 158 runners who scored, crossing the finish line 26:36. The other two Cougars to finish the race included Nana Samake (102^nd overall, 29:45.7), Kenia Irish-Bramble (108^th overall, 30:23.1), and Duranya Gayle (114^th overall, 31:38.5).

Men's Placements at Osprey Invitational

Despite the men not scoring as a team, Joshua Felix was the first Medgar Evers College runner to complete the 8K course, finishing 142^nd overall out of 162 runners with a time of 35:24.7. Coming in just 3.1 seconds later was veteran Chrisnel Nicolas, as he finished 143^rd (35:27.8). Rounding out the men's scorers were Matthew Fleming (158^th overall, 50:42.1) and Ahmed Toure (162^nd overall, 1:03:35.6).

Coach Reid's Quote about Queensborough Invitational/Dual Meet against Lehman

"This weekend at the Queensborough Invitational and our dual meet against Lehman College, our student-athletes showed real grit on a traditional and challenging course," Reid said. "Even though we did not compete at full strength, both the men's and women's teams handled the hills and terrain with confidence, and with a few more athletes joining us, we are in a promising position heading into the CUNYAC Championships next month. Our focus now is on closing the gaps and getting our newer athletes into competition shape. I was encouraged by the emergence of athletes like Tiego Brown, Zachary Bussey, Brianna Lindo, and Duranya Gayle, as well as the renewed leadership of veterans such as Joshua Felix, Chrisnel Nicolas, and Kenia Irish-Bramble. This meet gave us a glimpse of the conference landscape, and we fared very well—finishing right behind last year's champion and ahead of several teams that were picked to beat us in the preseason poll. To top it off, we were decisive winners in our dual meet against Lehman. Considering the difficulty of the course, I am very optimistic about the future of this team."

Women's Output at Queensborough Invitational

At the 5K Queensborough Invitational, the Cougars women placed 11^th out of 20 competing teams. Lindo was the first Cougar to cross the tape, finishing 20^th overall out of 159 runners with a time of 23:53. Coming in behind her was Irish-Bramble, as she earned a 33^rd place finish, dashing past the finish line at 25:30.6. Gayle finalized the course at 47^th overall (26:35.9), and rounding out MEC's women's finishers were Aaliyah Bartholomew (102^nd overall, 30:42.5) and Thenica Thompson (118^th overall, 32:09.4).

Women's Output at dual meet against Lehman

In the women's dual meet against Lehman College, the above times translated to the following placements against the Lightning: Lindo (first place), Irish-Bramble (second place), Gayle (third place), Bartholomew (sixth place), and Thompson (seventh place).

Men's Output at Queensborough Invitational

At the 8K Queensborough Invitational, the Cougars men placed 15^th out of 20 competing teams. Felix was the first Cougar to cross the tape, finishing 78th^th overall out of 161 scoring runners with a time of 38:30.5. Coming in behind him was Brown, as he earned an 81st place finish, dashing past the finish line at 38:38.8. Bussey finalized the course at 88^th overall (39:35.5), and rounding out MEC's men's finishers were Nicolas (92^nd overall, 40:11.6) and Leshaun Miller (147^th overall, 54:36.8).

Men's Output at dual meet against Lehman

In the men's dual meet against Lehman College, the above times translated to the following placements against the Lightning: Felix (first place), Brown (second place), Bussey (third place), Nicolas (fourth place), and Miller (eighth place).

Up Next For the Cougars

The Medgar Evers College cross country teams will return to action on Wednesday, October 8, as the teams will travel to the Delhi Golf Course in Delhi, NY to compete in the Bronco Classic. Start-time is scheduled for 3:00pm.

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