SALEM, VA - Fayetteville State University captured its third consecutive CIAA Women's Cross Country Championship title on Thursday at Green Hill Park in Salem, Virginia. The Broncos head coach
Inez Turner was named the 2019 CIAA Women's Coach of the Year for the third time. Broncos runner
Mercy Chemutai was named the CIAA Women's Cross Country Female Athlete of the Year, as voted upon by the league coaches and sports information directors.
The Broncos placed all five scorers among the top 15 runners to cruise to victory with 35 points. The top 15 runners are also recognized as All-CIAA performers.
Nelly Kandie finished 16.5 seconds behind the individual champion Kyla Frank of Virginia State University with a time of 20:32.5.
Mercy Chemutai led the team all season and finished third in 20:36.1.
Aleena Cruz was seventh overall in a time of 21:26.6 with
Sierra Beasley on her heels finishing eighth (21:30.4).
Charisma McKoy rounded out the All-CIAA list with a 15th place crossing in 22:11.6.
Virginia State University was second with 66 points and three finishers within the top 15. Winston-Salem State university was third with 88 points. The remaining order of finish was as follows: Shaw (110); Lincoln (117); Livingstone (159); St. Augustine's (158); Bowie state (224); Virginia union (231); Elizabeth city State (258); Johnson c. Smith (286); and Claflin (287).
Frank and last year's champion
Nelly Kandie of Fayetteville State raced head-to-head until the final mile when Frank began to pull away opening up a 16-second gap en route to winning the race. Frank completed the 5,000-meter course in 20:16.7.
Fayetteville State has the past three Runner of the Year honors. Runner-up
Nelly Kandie represented the Broncos last year and
Aleena Cruz won it her freshman year in 2017.
The All-CIAA team includes Frank, Kandie and Chemutai along with Nazirah Purnell (LU); Tamia Mclean (WSSU); Kaydi Ann Wint (SU);
Aleena Cruz (FSU);
Sierra Beasley (FSU); Jordan Burzynski (VSU); Alandina Hyppolite(VSU); Hannah Pealstrom (SU); Amber Glenn (LU); Gabrielle Glasco (LC); Luisa Curry (SU) and
Charisma McKoy (FSU).
The Fayetteville State men finished ninth out of 11 team field.Charles Pumba was shy of All-CIAA honors by two positions. He finished 17th in an 8K time of 29:40.6.
