BOWIE, Md. - The Bowie State men's and women's cross-country teams will return to competition Thursday, Oct. 15 when the Bulldogs travel to Lincoln, Pa., to compete in the Lincoln (PA) University Challenge. The meet will provide both Bowie State squads with another opportunity to compete against a competitive field as

the Bulldogs continue their preparation for the 2026 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Cross Country Championships.

 When: Thursday, Oct. 15
Where: Lincoln, Pa.
Women's Race: 5K
Men's Race: 8K
Meet Schedule: Click Here
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 Bulldogs Return to Competition
Bowie State enters the Lincoln (PA) University Challenge following strong performances at the HBCU Cross Country Challenge in Petersburg, Va. Both Bulldog squads earned third-place finishes, giving the teams additional experience against several CIAA opponents as they continue to build toward the conference championship.

With the CIAA Cross Country Championships scheduled for Oct. 22 in Salem, Va., Thursday's meet will provide Bowie State with another opportunity to fine-tune its performance and gain valuable experience against a competitive field.

Last Time Out for the Bulldog Men
The Bowie State men's team enters the Lincoln (PA) Challenge following a third-place finish at the HBCU Cross Country Challenge, where the Bulldogs totaled 61 points. Bowie State recorded a combined team time of 3:04:06, averaging 36:49 per runner.

Sean Trader once again paced the Bulldogs, finishing second overall in the men's 8K with a time of 30:37.2. Trader averaged 6:09.5 per mile and was the first Bowie State runner across the finish line.

Chase Garcia delivered another strong performance, placing sixth overall in 32:05.4. Tyler Bowling followed with a 15th-place finish in 35:58.4, while Michael Price crossed the line 18th overall in 36:18.2. Bernard Johnson rounded out the Bulldogs' scoring five with a 27th-place finish in 49:07.7.

Bowie State finished behind Virginia State and Lincoln (PA), which placed first and second, respectively, giving the Bulldogs another opportunity to compete against several of the teams they will see throughout the CIAA championship season.

Last Time Out for the Bulldog Women
The Bowie State women's team also posted a third-place finish at the HBCU Cross Country Challenge, totaling 67 points and recording a combined team time of 2:22:36. The Bulldogs averaged 28:31 per runner.

Leilani Gibson once again led the way for Bowie State, finishing sixth overall in the women's 5K with a time of 23:45.0. Gibson averaged 7:38.6 per mile and continued to provide a strong presence at the front of the Bulldogs' lineup.

Emetem Bezezuh followed with a seventh-place finish in 24:06.2, while Destinie Mayo placed ninth overall in 25:54.9. Skye Sargent-Thomas finished 28th in 33:54.1, while London Simons rounded out Bowie State's scoring five with a 29th-place finish in 34:56.6.

The Bulldogs finished behind Winston-Salem State and Lincoln (PA), while Virginia State and Shaw completed the field. The performance continued a strong early-season stretch for Gibson, Bezezuh and Mayo as Bowie State prepares for the final meets of the 2026 campaign.

Building Toward the CIAA Championships
The Lincoln (PA) University Challenge represents another important step for both Bowie State squads as the Bulldogs prepare for the 56th CIAA Cross Country Championship.

The conference championship is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, at Green Hill Park in Salem, Va. The men's and women's teams will compete for CIAA team and individual titles as Bowie State looks to close the season on a strong note.

Following the Lincoln (PA) Challenge, the Bulldogs will turn their full attention to the CIAA Cross Country Championships and the opportunity to compete for conference championships.

For the latest on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity teams, visit BSUBulldogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on social media.