Eleven Schools Gather for 2024 HBCUAC Cross Country Championship

DECATUR, Ala. - October 17, 2024 - Eleven schools descend on Danville, Alabama, to compete for the 2024 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Cross Country Championship hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism Friday at Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center Course.

The championship will be the first under the HBCU Athletic Conference name. The men will run an eight-kilometer (8K) race at 10 a.m. followed by the women's six-kilometer (6K) race at 11 a.m. The meet will be timed by XPress Timing and live results will also be available.

Philander Smith University (Ark.) men led by head coach Kameron Lewis will look to bring home its third straight title. Katavious Gibbs, who has multiple nominations for HBCUAC Runner of the Week has demonstrated remarkable consistency, stepping up as a leader for the men's team. He set a personal best in the 8k with a time of 30:43 at the Belhaven Invitational in Clinton, Miss.

Wiley University (Texas), finishing runner-up the past two seasons, seeks to claim the title in its first season under head coach Christopher McConnell. Javoun Goldsby, last season's second-place finisher by 0.1 seconds, sets his sights on the individual title. He was selected as the 2024 HBCUAC Preseason Runner of the Year and claimed five of the seven conference runner of the week awards. Jaylon Donson who earned All-Conference also returns along with Ameariun Harper and 2022 All-Conference athlete Joseph Levier III.

Tougaloo College (Miss.) finished third last season. JaDarrius Nelson earned HBCUAC Runner of the Week for September 23-29. Nevon Taylor was also nominated for multiple Runner of the Week awards.

Talladega College (Ala.) finished fourth in last season's championship and is in its first season under the direction of Terry Gaitor. Decquan Nesbitt earned a Preseason All-HBCUAC Selection and finished third in last season's Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championship. Isiah Bain and Jason Ivey, who finished in the top 30 return.

Dillard University (La.) is led by K'Mon Washington who received multiple nominations for HBCUAC Runner of the Week. He ran 31:10 at the October 4 Loyola Invitational.

Stillman College (Ala.), a newcomer to the conference that previously competed in the Southern State Athletic Conference is led by Amos Metto who claimed HBCUAC Runner of the Week for September 16-22 and was a Preseason All-HBCUAC Selection. 

Rust College's top runners are sophomore Valentin Jaquez IV and freshman Jabarri Joseph. Mark Hayes-Ayala emerged as the University of the Virgin Islands top runner. He ran 37:17:10 at the Ave Maria Invitational. Fisk University is in their first season under the guidance of Marcelle Scales. It finished eighth in last season's championship.

Voorhees University (S.C.) and Wilberforce University (Ohio) are also new to the conference. Rishid Silveria and Jeremiah Polk of Voorhees received nominations for All-HBCUAC.

Dillard University is looking to continue its dynasty on the women's side as it seeks it's fourth straight title. It is in its fifth season under the leadership of Nile Legania. Brooklyn Acosta, who is a three-time All-Conference runner leads the team. She won HBCUAC Runner of the Week for August 26-September 1. Kennedy Timmons was a Preseason All-HBCUAC selection.

Philander Smith University finished third in last season's championship but Ja'Neisha Collins took the title by 11 seconds and will look to defend it. She was selected as the Preseason HBCUAC Runner of the Year and claimed three Runner of the Week awards.

Talladega College finished runner-up last season. Jewel Cross, the 2023 runner-up, earned Preseason All-HBCUAC and is the reigning Runner of the Week. Dhae'Nia Pinnock and Dhenecia Pinnock finished in the top 30 of the 2023 GCAC Championship.

Wiley University finished fourth in last season's championship and have been led by freshmen JaKatelyn Thomas and Remi Pierre. Thomas earned HBCUAC Runner of the Week for September 30-October 6. Pierre was nominated last week.

Tougaloo College finished fifth at last season's championship and have been led by Herlancia Miller, who took home HBCUAC Runner of the Week for September 16-22. Ty'Mya Sims earned a Preseason All-HBCUAC selection.

Stillman College is one of the newcomers to the Conference after spending the last five seasons in Southern States Athletic Conference. Jaiaa Sims was a Preseason All-HBCUAC selection. She ran a season-best 30:12.6 on October 10.

Rust finished sixth at last season's championship and is led by Lauren Warr who finished in the top 20 last season and Ameyla Hatch who was a top 10 finisher in 2022. Fisk finished seventh at last season's championship.

The University of the Virgin Islands will compete in their second conference championship. Freshmen Gabrielle Quetel and Emma Alexander are the leaders on the team. Also joining the conference are Voorhees University and Wilberforce University.

If at least six teams have five finishers, the winning team and the top four individuals placed 15th or higher and not on the winning team will receive an automatic berth to the 2024 NAIA National Championship at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri on November 22.