Dillard's Davison garners Week 1 HBCUAC Women's Cross Country Weekly Awards

NEW ORLEANS - September 2, 2025 - Dillard University women's cross country athlete Karlise Davison wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Runner and Freshman of the Week for her performance from August 25-31, the conference announced on Tuesday.

In her collegiate debut, Davison finished the Battle of New Orleans, four-kilometer race in 17:24, breaking the program record. She ran against athletes from all levels of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Davison completed the course at a seven-minute mile pace.

Additional women's cross country weekly nominees: Inajia Jefferson (Wiley), Mary Rodriguez (Talladega), Kaiden Taylor (Wiley)

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.