Newark, NJ – A personal-record filled day highlighted the Monroe University women's cross country team's performance at the METS Championship at Branch Brook Park on Saturday.
 
Clocking a season-best team average of 22:44.80, the Mustangs each shaved off more than two to five minutes from their times from the season opener at the Queensborough Invite, setting new personal-best time across the board.
 
Freshman Brooke Sheppard led the way for the Mustangs, clocking in at 20:38.00, an improvement of four minutes from her time at the Queensborough Invite. Sheppard's time was a personal-best and is also the fastest time ran this season by any member of the team this year.
 
Next up for the Mustangs to finish was sophomore Tanesia Gardiner, who ran a personal-bets time of 20:43.00, 3:06 faster than her season opening performance. Gardiner's time was also the second fastest time for the Mustangs in 2025.
 
Freshman Kaliyah Jones followed Gardiner with a time of 22:55.00, a 3:04 improvement. Freshmen Latejah Bailey (1:56.90 improvement), Anihra Wilkes (2:28.80), and sophomore Juliahnna Johnson (3:00.07) rounded out the improved Mustang finishers.
 
The men's team also saw the same personal-record improvements across the board, capping a phenomenal day of growth for the cross country program as a whole.
 
"It was a great day for us today," head coach Shirvon Greene said. "The ladies ran very well and I am happy with each of their performances. We will use these next couple of days to rest up for the next meet."
 
The Mustangs will compete in their third event of the season on Saturday when they run in the St. Joseph's Invitational at Sunken Meadows State Park in Kings Park, NY. The meet is set to begin at 11:00 am.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 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).