Men's Cross Country | 10/18/2025 8:46:00 PM
COLMAR MANOR, Md. — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore cross country program closed out its 2025 regular season at the Howard Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Junior Siyabonga Mbatha placed first in the men's 5k, while junior Rebecca Jepngetich finished third in the women's 5k.
Jepngetich set the pace for the women's squad, crossing the line in 19:04.07. Senior Abigail Fisher was the second-fastest Hawk, placing fifth in 19:51.24. In the team standings, UMES finished second as freshman Sharly Cherop, senior Shenell Simms and graduate student McKenzie Abiley combined to score 35 points.
On the men's side, Mbatha earned his first individual title of the season, crossing the finish line in 15:45.70. Junior Banele Mkabela continued his strong 2025 campaign with a third-place finish in 15:55.15. The Hawks placed Third in the team standings as Mbatha, Mkabela, freshmen Kyle Gordon and Trezure Trader, and seniors Destiny Emuze and David Martin combined to total 58 points.
Final scores for the women's 5k:
Howard: 24
Maryland Eastern Shore: 35
Delaware State: 74
Goucher: 102
Bowie: 141
Coppin State: 144
UDC: 164
Final scores for the men's 5k:
Howard: 55
Delaware State: 58
Maryland Eastern Shore: 62
Coppin State: 79
Goucher: 84
Bowie State: 131
Times from the women's race are as follows:
| Place |
Name |
Team |
Time |
Score |
| 1 |
Alexis Jones |
Howard |
18:34.89 |
+1 |
| 2 |
Mira Martin |
Howard |
18:55.70 |
+2 |
| 3 |
Rebecca Jepngetich |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
19:17.38 |
+3 |
| 4 |
Ester Kirk |
Howard |
19:14.90 |
+4 |
| 5 |
Abigail Fisher |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
19:51.24 |
+5 |
| 6 |
Kendall Robinson |
Howard |
20:14.06 |
+6 |
| 7 |
Sharly Cherop |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
19:44.86 |
+7 |
| 8 |
Shenell Simms |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
20:35.31 |
+8 |
| 9 |
Mi'Leah Cotton |
Delaware State |
21:36.52 |
+9 |
| 10 |
Leilani Gibson |
Delaware State |
21:10.89 |
+10 |
Times from the men's race are as follows:
| Place |
Name |
Team |
Time |
Score |
| 1 |
Siyabonga Mbatha |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
28:05.83 |
+1 |
| 2 |
William Shepherd |
Howard |
15:51.22 |
+2 |
| 3 |
Banele Mkabela |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
15:55.15 |
+3 |
| 4 |
Humed Nura |
Coppin State |
27:53.42 |
+4 |
| 5 |
Jonathan Sotonwa |
Delaware State |
16:06.36 |
+5 |
| 6 |
Jonathan Drew |
Delaware State |
16:07.38 |
+6 |
| 7 |
Sayid Shakur |
Howard |
16:17.19 |
+7 |
| 8 |
Jayden Keels |
Goucher |
16:31.36 |
+8 |
| 9 |
Paul Robinson |
Howard |
16:37.74 |
+9 |
| 10 |
Ian Cain |
Delaware State |
16:40.85 |
+10 |
Next up, UMES will travel to Cary, N.C., to compete in the MEAC Championships on Saturday, Nov. 1.
For full results and performances from Saturday's competition, visit https://results.mdtimingllc.com/meets/57637
For updates on UMES cross country and track & field, visit UMESHawkSports.com and follow the team on Twitter (@UMESHawkTFXC) and Instagram (@umeshawktfxc).