HBCUAC Qualifiers finish 2024 NAIA National Championship
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Tougaloo College men's cross country team, Dillard University women's cross country team and seven individual qualifiers from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) completed the 2024 season by running in the 2024 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's and Women's Cross Country National Championship Friday at Gans Creek Cross Country Course.
In a field of over 300 athletes, the 2024 HBCUAC champion Bulldogs finished 36th in the eight-kilometer race. Nevon Taylor led the team with a time of 33:28.3. He was followed by JaDarrius Nelson (33:50), Ashton Neely (37:37.7), Malachi Martin (40:18) and Andre' Payne (41:54.8). Decquan Nisbett of Talladega College was the top HBCUAC finisher at 31:31. Philander Smith University's Katavious Gibbs followed at 32:50. The 2024 HBCUAC individual champion Javoun Goldsby of Wiley University finished in 32:57.3. Amos Metto of Stillman College qualified but did not run.
Dillard, the four-time defending conference champion, did not place in the team standings as it did not have five runners finish the six-kilometer race. All-HBCUAC athlete Brooklyn Acosta led the team with a time of 29:54. Her teammates Kevell Byrd (30:57.4), Jaelynn Hoffman (31:46.3) and Tazia McGee (32.13.8) followed. The two-time defending HBCUAC individual champion Ja'Neisha Collins of Philander Smith University led the HBCUAC runners with a time of 27:20.9. She was followed by Talladega College's Jewel Cross (28:52.4). Tougaloo College's Herlancia Miller finished in 31:22.3 and Ta'Mya Sims followed at 33:42.1.
College of Idaho captured the men's national title and The Master's University edged out Taylor College for the women's national title. Evert Silva of Oklahoma City University won the men's individual title. Jaynie Halterman of Taylor won the women's race.
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About 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), Oakwood University (AL), 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 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.