GREENVILLE, N.C. – Martha Bissah posted a personal record 6,000-meter time of 20 minutes, 47.51 seconds in finishing second individually at the East Carolina Pirate Invitational on Friday night at Lake Kristi.

On a course where she set her previous 6K PR of 20:51 one year ago, Bissah was even better on Friday, placing second behind only Elon's Scolasticah Kemei (20:25.67) in the field of 139 runners. Bissah helped the Spartans place seventh in the team standings out of 15 teams.

Sophomore Fridah Koech, senior Caroline Samoei and freshman Kara Grant also set new 6K PRs on Friday. Koech crossed the finish line in 18th place in 22:02.48, while Samoei placed 37th in 22:41.51. Grant posted a time of 23:27.50 to come in 67th, and senior Nelly Jerop rounded out the Spartans' top five in 25:01.65 (96th place).

The Spartans next set their sights on the MEAC Cross Country Championships, which will be contested next Saturday morning in Smyrna, Del.