NEW YORK, NY --The Fayetteville State women's indoor track & field team turned in a strong slate of performances on Saturday at the HBCU Showcase by Nike Running in New York, collecting top‑three finishes, new program rankings, and season‑best marks across multiple events. Against a deep field of HBCU and regional Division II competition, the Broncos showcased their balance, depth, and rising star power on the track and in the field.
One of the day's top highlights came in the women's mile, where sophomore Faith Kiplimo raced to a third-place finish in 5:08.34, earning six points for the Broncos and continuing her ascent as one of the CIAA's most consistent distance threats. In the field, senior Sheree Wright added another podium finish with a runner-up performance in the high jump, clearing 1.63m (5-04.25). Her jump marked new HBCU and Division II leaderboard positions, validating her preseason expectations as an anchor of the Broncos' vertical jumps squad.
The sprints group produced big results as well, led by Malaysia Barber, who turned in a strong double in the 60m and 200m. Barber placed third in the unseeded 60m with a time of 7.93 before adding a 26.13 effort in the 200m—the fastest time among FSU athletes and good for another strong ranking among HBCU competitors. Teammates Amaya Cummings and Ma'Ryah Hargrove followed closely behind in both sprint events, establishing early-season depth for the Broncos' short‑sprints unit.
In the hurdles, Tanzania Washington and Taniya Dickerson advanced through preliminary rounds with times of 9.51 and 9.61, respectively, continuing to sharpen their rhythm as the season builds toward championship form.
The Broncos also excelled in the 400m and middle‑distance races. Sierrah Matthews clocked a standout 58.34 in the 400m—earning new HBCU and DII rankings—while Sanai Forte added a 59.41 to keep the Broncos strong in the quarter-mile. FSU placed three runners inside the top 21 of the 800m, led by Nia Gibson (2:26.49), Repline Cheptoo (2:27.21), and Ashley Bell (2:27.64), giving Fayetteville State one of the meet's deepest mid-distance groups.
Distance competition remained a bright spot, including Irene Jeptoo, who finished 11th in the 3000m with a time of 11:59.34—another performance that captured a new HBCU ranking.
The field events further strengthened Fayetteville State's outing. In the long jump, Holley Johnson posted one of the team's top marks of the day with a leap of 5.55m, finishing sixth and securing new HBCU and DII ranking positions. Abraonna Williams and Mia Thompson followed with jumps of 5.42m and 5.27m, respectively, placing both athletes inside the top 13.
The throws group continued its momentum behind Aaliyah Whyte, who impressed in both the shot put and weight throw. Whyte placed seventh in the shot put with a mark of 12.45m—earning new HBCU and Division II rankings—before adding a ninth-place finish in the weight throw at 13.83m. Paige Simmons‑Norris competed in both events as well, adding depth in the throws with marks of 11.02m in the shot and 8.88m in the weight.
Mia Thompson closed the day with an eighth-place finish in the triple jump (10.86m), earning a point for the Broncos and adding another HBCU leaderboard position to an already productive meet for Fayetteville State's field corps.
From sprints to distance and jumps to throws, the Broncos made a statewide and regional statement with their early-season marks in New York. Multiple athletes posted new HBCU and Division II rankings, while podium finishes from Kiplimo and Wright helped set the tone for a team that is quickly rounding into form as the calendar heads toward February.
The Broncos will travel to Lynchburg, VA, to compete in the Liberty Open on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24.
