Fayetteville State Wins 2021 CIAA Women’s Cross Country Championship

October 28, 2021October 29, 2021 K. Alston CIAA Women's Cross Country Championship, Fayetteville State University

SALEM, VA – For the fourth consecutive time, Fayetteville State came away with the women’s 5K team title at the CIAA Cross Country Championships held at Green Hill Park on Thursday, Oct. 28.

The Broncos also won CIAA crowns in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The cross country season was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The individual 5K champion was Michelle Blaha of Shaw, who crossed the finish line first in 20:07.2 seconds. During the award ceremony, Tiarra Smith of Winston-Salem State was selected CIAA Women’s Athlete of the Year as voted by CIAA cross country head coaches and sports information directors. Inez Turner of Fayetteville State was named CIAA Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year.

A strong running performance by the Broncos keyed them to their latest team championship. The group of Mercy Chemutai (fourth), Destiny Stevons (11^th), Sierra Beasley (12^th), Mya Johnson (14) and Aaliyah Saunders (15^th) placed among the top 15 runners to score 56 points. Aleena Cruz-Coleman (16^th) and Mylasia Pratt (28th) also ran well for the Broncos.

The Broncos’ effort was enough to edge runner-up Winston-Salem State with 59 points. Virginia State claimed third place with 63 points.

Shaw placed fourth with 93 points followed by Claflin (132), Lincoln, Pa. (158), Livingstone (176), Johnson C. Smith (229), Bowie State (243) and Virginia Union (256).

Individually, Vanessa Jones of Winston-Salem State finished second in 20:40 and Kyera Frank of Virginia State was third in 20:56.1.

The top 15 finishers including Blaha, Jones and Frank were named to the All-CIAA women’s team. The rest of the all-conference honorees were Chemutai of Fayetteville State, Alandina Hyppolite of Virginia State (fifth), Madison McDonald of Claflin (sixth), Viola Alisch of Shaw (seventh), Tamia McLean of Winston-Salem State (eighth), Tiarra Smith of Winston-Salem State (ninth), Nakacee Mcnab of Lincoln, Pa. (10^th), Stevons of Fayetteville State, Beasley of Fayetteville State, Anna Schardong of Shaw (13^th), Johnson of Fayetteville State and Saunders of Fayetteville State.

To get the latest information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com. You can also like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram and on Twitch.