Fayetteville State University Athletics

The 2017 Fayetteville State University Women's Cross Country Team forever changed the trajectory of Bronco Athletics by capturing the first CIAA Women's Cross Country Championship in school history. Under the leadership of first-year head coach Inez Turner, the Broncos transformed a newly assembled program into a championship team in just a matter of months, producing one of the most remarkable seasons in Fayetteville State athletics history. 

Entering the season, Fayetteville State had never claimed a CIAA women's cross country title. That changed on October 26, 2017, when the Broncos delivered a dominating performance at the CIAA Championships in Salem, Virginia, scoring 35 points to secure the conference crown. The championship marked not only the program's first title but also the beginning of what would become one of the most successful dynasties in CIAA cross country history. 

The championship team was fueled by a talented and determined core of runners led by freshman standout Aleena Cruz, who finished as the CIAA Championship runner-up with a season-best time of 19:38.8 in the 5K race. Her performance earned her recognition as the 2017 CIAA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year. 

The Broncos placed four runners among the top seven finishers at the conference championship:

• Aleena Cruz – 2nd Place (19:38.8)
• Destiny Stevons – 4th Place (20:29.3)
• Carisha Leonard – 6th Place (20:43.1)
• Morgan Gaither – 7th Place (20:46.1) 

Cruz, Stevons, Leonard, and Gaither each earned All-CIAA honors, while Taniya Petty's crucial 16th-place finish provided the scoring depth needed to secure the championship.

The success of the Broncos extended beyond the conference championship. Earlier in the season, Fayetteville State captured the team title at the Adidas XC Challenge hosted by NC State University, defeating a competitive field and signaling the program's emergence as a conference contender. Cruz's performance during the season earned her CIAA Runner of the Week honors, while Turner was named CIAA Coach of the Week. 

For her efforts in building a championship program in just her first season, Inez Turner was named the CIAA Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year. The award marked the tenth conference Coach of the Year honor of her distinguished career and underscored the immediate impact she made on the Broncos program. 

What made the achievement even more remarkable was the team's makeup. The roster featured numerous first-year runners, many of whom had little or no prior collegiate cross country experience. Through discipline, belief, and a commitment to a common goal, the team quickly developed into conference champions and laid the foundation for future success. 

The 2017 championship team did more than win a title. It established a culture of excellence that would propel Fayetteville State Women's Cross Country into a perennial CIAA powerhouse. As the first team to bring a CIAA women's cross country championship back to Fayetteville, their legacy remains one of the most significant accomplishments in the history of Bronco Athletics. 

For breaking new ground, achieving historic success, and establishing a championship standard for future generations, the 2017 Fayetteville State University Women's Cross Country Team is a deserving member of the 2026 Fayetteville State University Athletics Hall of Fame.