Kings Park, NY - The No. 22 Monroe University men's cross country team took first place out of 19 teams at the St. Joseph's Long Island Invitational at Sunken Meadow State Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Mustangs had four runners finish in the Top-4, which helped the team finished as overall winners at the event to conclude its regular season slate.

Sophomore Siyabonga Mbatha placed first overall, clocking in at 26:55.09. A personal best for Mbatha, the time was also the fourth best overall time ran at Sunken Meadow State Park course.

Freshman Nkanyezi Ziqubu placed second overall with a time of 27:05.57. Fellow freshman Tinashe Bure placed third overall with a time of 27:16.42. Rounding out the Top-4, sophomore Banele Mkabela placed fourth overall, clocking in with a time of 27:22.26.

Freshman Anesuishe Makuwatsine placed next for the Mustangs, clocking in at 34:41.97. 

Freshman Jahmar Francis rounded out the Monroe racer with a time of 38:28.70, which is a personal best for the Huntington Station native.

The Mustangs will now prepare for the 2024 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, which will take place on Saturday, November 9, at Green Pole Park in Richmond, VA. The championship meet is scheduled to start at 11 am.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as the Monroe University marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeUMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).