Oct. 15, 2009

DURHAM, N.C.- The North Carolina Central University men's and women's cross country teams will bring the 2009 season to a close with their annual NCCU Cross Country Classic, Saturday (Oct. 17) at 10:00 a.m. in Forest Hills Park in Durham, N.C.

While the Eagles go head-to-head with North Carolina A&T, the Broncos of Fayetteville State University will also mix into the competition.

During this meet, the women will be running the 1.9 mile (3k) course and the men will be running a 3.1 mile (5k) course.

"This has been a good season for our women's and men's teams," said NCCU head coach Michael Lawson. "Our freshmen have been exposed to the competition they will face as MEAC student-athletes and the legacy that our seniors have created."

The NCCU Cross Country Classic has been the Eagles' regular-season closeout meet since 1990. Lawson established the meet as preparation for the conference tournament, and to pay homage to renowned track and field coach Russell E. Blunt.

"Coach Blunt has been a mentor for me as an athlete and a coach for quite some time, so being able to host a tournament on the course he designed is an honor," said Lawson.

This will the final cross country meet for seniors Desinia Johnson of Raleigh, N.C., Ashley Cooke of Hampton, Va. and Christopher Hall of Georgetown, Guyana.

"This meet is bittersweet," said Lawson. "We are graduating a few good runners, but I think our new kids will have bright a future in cross country."