Campbell Cross Country Teams Set for Royals Cross Country Challenge
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Campbell men’s and women’s cross country teams are preparing for their fourth meet of the season at the Royals Cross Country Challenge on Friday, Oct. 9, taking place at McAlpine Creek Park. This event serves as the regular season finale before the postseason competition, with CAA Championships scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30, in Long Island, N.Y.
The meet, hosted by Queens University of Charlotte, will kick off with the women’s 5K race at 5 p.m., followed by the men’s 8K at 5:45 p.m.
Meet Information
- Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 9 | 5:00 p.m. ET (Women’s 5K) | 5:45 p.m. ET (Men’s 8K)
- Location: Charlotte, N.C. | McAlpine Creek Park
Last Time Out
Campbell achieved notable results in their previous outing on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Richmond Invitational and Dill Family Invitational. The teams collectively secured 12 top-20 finishes, with the men placing second and the women finishing third at the Dill Family Invitational.
Senior Emily Pierce excelled, achieving the fifth-fastest 6K time in program history with a personal best of 21:20.8 at Richmond, finishing fifth overall.
Pierce-ing History
Pierce also recorded the third-fastest 5K time in Campbell history with a finish of 17:27.7 at the Adidas XC Challenge, ranking 23rd among 164 participants. Her performance earned her the first CAA weekly honor of her career, marking the first time a Campbell runner has received a conference weekly honor since Dorcus Ewoi in 2021.
At the Richmond Invitational, Pierce once again secured a top-five finish and improved her previous personal best.
Recap of the 2025 Season
In the 2025 season, Campbell participated in six meets, including the CAA Championships and the NCAA Southeast Regional. At the CAA Championships, Pierce led the women’s team with a personal best of 21:49.8, finishing 24th. In the men’s 8K, sophomore Isaiah Martine recorded a personal best of 24:57.8, contributing to both teams placing eighth overall.
Roster Breakdown
The men’s and women’s teams are welcoming 10 new members for the 2026 season, which includes four transfers, with four of the new members hailing from North Carolina. The men’s team adds three newcomers, while the women’s team welcomes seven. Additionally, the men’s team sees the return of 14 members and the women’s team retains 11.
Head Coach Evan Darm
Evan Darm enters his second season leading both the Campbell track and field and cross country programs, having removed the interim tag after the 2024-25 year. A 2015 Campbell graduate, Darm has significant experience, having worked with distance runners and guiding the team to success in prior seasons, including a Big South title.
Stay Updated
For ongoing coverage of Campbell cross country, follow the Camels on X (@GoCamelsTFXC) and Instagram (@GoCamelsTFXC).
