The City University of New York Athletic Conference announced its All-Conference squads for the 2025 cross country seasons earlier this month, and a plethora of Medgar Evers standouts earned distinctions.
On the women's side, freshmen Brianna Lindo and Duranya Gayle, as well as veterans Kenia Irish-Bramble and Nana Samake earned All-Conference status thanks to their top-15 finishes in the women's 6K meet. Lindo also earned a sport on the female sportsmanship team. For the Cougars' men's squad, Medgar Evers was represented by Joshua Felix, as the youngster was tabbed to the sportsmanship team.
Brianno Lindo has made a remarkable impact during her first season as a Cougar, establishing herself as the best female runner to ever pass through the program. Her ability to rise to the occasion is impressive, as she has broken her own records consistently. The freshman was a two-time CUNYAC Rookie of the Week during the 2025 campaign, as well as a one-time honorable mention. She was the first Cougar to cross the tape at a majority of the team's meets this season, and at the CUNYAC championships, she came in seventh place, clocking in at 26:59.6 in the women's 6K competition.
As the postseason continued on, Lindo earned All-ECAC honors by taking sixth place at the ECAC Championships (11/8), as she finished the 6K meet in 28:29.6. She capped her season by wowing at the NCAA Division III Metro Regionals, breaking the school record by more than 100 seconds when she finished 82nd overall (24:45.5) in the 6K meet.
Lindo was also tabbed to the conference's sportsmanship team. From her first day on the squad, she set the bar high for herself by showing up for every practice, working diligently to not only prepare herself for the season, but to also sustain continued improvement and success. Lindo has done just that, and while her performances have been eye-opening, she has also gone the extra mile to make sure that her teammates stayed on top of their academic responsibilities. Her influence has permeated throughout the team, and her contributions have been extremely key in the Cougars' journey during the 2025 campaign.
Kenia Irish-Bramble earned all-conference status thanks to her seventh-place finish (28:15.5) at the CUNYAC championship meet. In addition to that stellar performance, Irish-Bramble's season was nothing short of impressive. At the Golden Ram Invitational back on October 11, she ran the third-fastest time in school history, just 0.7 seconds off her personal best, to finish 10th overall (23:18.8) out of 45 scoring runners. Five days later at the Lincoln University (Pa.) Championship Tune-Up, she ran the 4th-fastest time in program history to place 15th. At the Mount Saint Mary (NY) College Fall Festival on October 19th, Irish-Bramble ran the second-fastest time in school history (5K Race – 22:52.2).
At the ECAC Championships (11/8), Irish-Bramble clocked a top-20 finish, finishing at 30:51 (19th overall). She wrapped up her season at the NCAA Division III Metro Regionals with a 146th place finish in the women's 6K competition.
Nana Samake, a household name in Medgar Evers College athletics, put together a strong season. She solidified CUNYAC All-Conference honors at the conference championship meet, earning a 13th place finish (29:17) for the Cougars. Samake's had plenty of other signature moments during the '25 campaign. At the Herb Lorenz XC Invite (9/12), she achieved a 28th place finish and a personal record, coming in at 24:54.1 in a 5K competition. At the Lincoln University (Pa.) Championship Tune-Up (10/16), she put forth a strong performance with the 7th-fastest time —just 10 seconds off her personal best (21:16.1 in the 4K). At the Mount Saint Mary (NY) College Fall Festival, Samake ran a personal-best in the 8K, earning an eighth-place finish with a time of 24:49.8.
Duranya Gayle registered a 15th place finish at the CUNYAC Championship meet, earning her the final all-conference honor. She completed that 6K meet in 29:31.2. As a whole, Gayle was a terrific contributor in her first season as a Cougar. At the Herb Lorenz XC Invite (9/12), she achieved a personal record with a 34th place finish, crossing the tape at 27:05.3 in a 5K competition. At the Lincoln University (Pa.) Championship Tune-Up (10/16), she put forth a brilliant performance with the 3rd-fastest time in school history to finish 10th overall. At the Mount Saint Mary (NY) College Fall Festival, she delivered a personal-best time in the 8K with a time of 24:50.
Joshua Felix truly embodied the spirit of the Cougars' men's cross country team, showcasing remarkable school pride and leadership throughout the season. This season, he served as the captain of the Cougars, demonstrating incredible passion and work ethic. A tremendous ambassador for both the institution and the team, his determination to give his all, even in tough times, spoke volumes about his character. Felix's excitement and pride served as an inspiration to his teammates and competitors alike. His perseverance and sportsmanship exemplify what it means to be a true athlete, making him an exceptional representative of the team. He has competed in every meet this season, being the first Cougar to cross the tape in seven out of eight meets. This season, he achieved school records in both the 4K and 6K competitions. Prior to the CUNYAC championship meet, the veteran ranked first in CUNYAC in the 4K, fifth in the 5K, and 14th in the 6K.
