Royals Challenge Men's Results
Royals Challenge Women's Results

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Thirteen College of Charleston runners established new personal bests while four cracked the Top 25 in school history at the Royals Challenge held Saturday at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte.

Tess Masselink continued her stellar sophomore season by covering the 5K course in a time of 17:25, the third fastest in school history at that distance. She easily shattered her previous career best of 17:49.29 set at the Louisville Classic last year and enabled her to finish sixth in a field of 412 athletes.

Masselink, the two-time Colonial Athletic Association Runner of the Week, has been the top Cougar finisher in all nine races of her career.

Declan Hines led the Charleston men with a time of 24:56 in the 8K race to finish 29th of 395 runners and climb up to third in school history. He shaved 43 seconds off his previous personal best set at Louisville last year.

Sam Beattie posted a 25:17 to take the eighth spot in school history, and Hayden DiBona's time of 25:41 now ranks 22nd. Beattie's time was a personal best as were marks for Jack Wedge (25:43), Ryan Moosbrugger (25:52), Nick Rienzo (25:52), Tyler Fish (25:55) and Jack Beattie (26:36).

Also setting personal bests for the women were Kristen Cherry (18:24), Jace Kosiorek (19:50), Jasmine Smith (20:03), Emma DeRoberts (20:52) and Laurie Fogleman (22:01). 

Cate Ambrose was nine seconds off her personal best, but her time of 18:14 placed her 30th in the meet while Cherry finished 43rd. 

The Cougar men finished 10th of 43 teams, and the women were 14th of 45.

Both teams have next week off before heading to Farmingdale, N.Y., for the CAA Meet on Friday, October 26.