WINSTON SALEM, NC (February 12, 2023) - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announced Fayetteville State freshman Repline Cheptoo as the 2022-23 Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and Bronco sophomore M'Smrya Seward as the Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, as voted by the CIAA Track & Field Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association.  

These premier student-athletes were recognized today during Day 1 of the 2022-23 CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championship at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, NC. 
 
Repline Cheptoo entered the championship meet as the CIAA's top women's runner in the mile with a time of 5:37 minutes at the Clemson Opener in South Carolina. In the conference, the Kapsabet, Rift Valley, Kenya native is second in the women's 800 meters run with a time of 2:24 minutes and second in the women's 3000 meters with a time of 11:08 minutes. Cheptoo is also a member of the Broncos' women's distance medley relay that ranks third in the league. 
 
Cheptoo was a member of the 2022 CIAA Cross Country Championship team where she finished fifth overall. 

M'Smrya Shea Seward has the top mark in the CIAA in the long jump (6.10m) and triple jump (11.95m), which she set at the Marlin Invitational on January 20. The Youngsville, NC native provisionally qualified for the NCAAs in both events and in Division II, she has the third-best performance with her 6.10m long jump and she is 15th with her 11.95m triple jump. 

Seward is a 2022 NCAA Outdoor All-American after she finished second in the long jump on May 27, with a career-best 6.22 meters (20'5"). 

Cheptoo, Seward, and the Broncos are seeking their third consecutive conference championship in indoor track & field.