Philander Smith's Whitfield, Wiley's Hurd win Week 2 HBCUAC Men's Cross Country Weekly Awards

Maurice Rue-Whitfield and Earl Hurd Jr. rose to the top of the pack in Week 2.

September 9, 2025

NEW ORLEANS - September 9, 2025 - Philander Smith University's Maurice Rue-Whitfield claims Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week. Wiley University's Earl Hurd Jr. took home Freshman of the Week. The men were recognized for their performance between September 1-7, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Rue-Whitfield ran 18:46.33 at the Lyon College Invitational on Saturday. He finished sixth out of 30 runners.

Hurd Jr. led the Wildcats at the University of Texas at Tyler season opener. He finished the eight-kilometer course in 30:07, competing against NCAA Division III runners. Hurd ran at a 6:03 mile-pace.

Additional weekly nominees: Kameron Brister (Tougaloo), Kenneth Richardson II (Stillman), Nevon Taylor (Tougaloo)

2025 HBCUAC Men's Cross Country Runners of the Week

Date	Runner	Freshman	Newcomer
Aug. 25-31	Skyaqui Howard, Wilberforce	Skyaqui Howard, Wilberforce	John Russell Jr., Wiley
Sept. 1-7	Maurice Rue-Whitfield, Philander Smith	Earl Hurd Jr., Wiley	N/A

About the HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.