ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State cross country runner Brittney Stewart won the 5K HBCU Challenge, while Charles Kurgatt was 14th in the men's 8K conducted Saturday at Cary, NC where the SC State women were second and the men seventh overall in the 19-team event.
Stewart, a junior of Warner Robins, Georgia, covered the course in a time of 18:46.7 in finishing first in the women's division that included 119 participants from 19 teams. The Bulldogs were paced by junior Charles Kurgatt, who completed the course in a person-record time of 27:05.3 to finish 14th in a field of 119 participants from 17 teams.
Overall, a combined nine of the eleven participants for SC State established personal records in the event, one of the most competitive of the campaign for Coach Tyree Price's squads.
Establishing personal records for the SC State women were freshman Patavia Lowery, who was fifth overall in the event in a time of 19:29.0; senior Patrecia Daniley, 10th in a time of 20:08.4; freshman Tamara Smith, 22nd in a time of 21:12.0; and sophomore Oprah Odugbela, 28th in a time of 21:28.8. Also competing for the SC State women was Tamoya Morrison, who was 55th with a time of 22:54.6.
For the men, in addition to Kurgatt, also setting personal standards were freshman Seymour Walter, 15th with a time of 27:06.6; Freshman Aaron Worthy, 21st with a time of 27:46.6; sophomore Reginald Childs, 69th in a time of 31:34.4; and senior DeAngelo Bolden, 81st with a time of 33:21.8. Also participating for the Bulldogs was junior Green, 100th in a time of 35:35.3.
SC State returns to action Oct. 9 at the Furman Invite at Greenville, SC.
