PETERSBURG, VA — Fayetteville State closed out the 2026 CIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship with a strong final day Saturday at Rogers Stadium, finishing third overall in the women's standings as one of the conference's most competitive programs.
The Broncos accumulated 102.26 points to secure third place behind champion Winston‑Salem State (130 points) and runner‑up Claflin (125.42 points). Fayetteville State's podium finish was fueled by consistency across the meet and a standout Day 2 performance in the distance events.
Saturday belonged to Fayetteville State sophomore
Faith Kiplimo, who turned in one of the most impressive performances of the championship. Kiplimo captured the CIAA title in the women's 5,000 meters, clocking 18:11.60 to score 10 points while setting a new No. 5 mark on the 2026 HBCU performance list. Her dominance in the event helped anchor the Broncos' point total, with additional contributions from teammates
Videlma Jebet, who finished second in 18:47.21 for eight points, and
Pelisha Kosgei, who placed fourth in 19:07.23 to add five points. Senior
Nia Gibson rounded out the scoring in the 5,000 meters with a fifth‑place finish in 19:19.50.
Kiplimo also added valuable points earlier in the day in the 800 meters, finishing fourth in 2:18.14 to score five points, while
Ashley Bell added another point with an eighth‑place finish.
In the one‑lap events,
Sierrah Matthews placed sixth in the 400 meters, crossing the line in 58.99 to earn three points. Rookie
Taniya Dickerson continued to impress in her first CIAA Championship, finishing seventh in the 400‑meter hurdles in 1:05.36, good for two points.
Fayetteville State also contributed to the scoreboard in the relays. The Broncos finished sixth in the 4x100 relay with a time of 48.26, scoring three points behind a lineup of
Sanai Forte,
Ziyah Etchison,
Amaya Cummings, and
Angel Scott. In the 4x400 relay, Fayetteville State placed seventh in 4:07.55, earning two points with Forte,
Jeneva Golden, Scott, and Matthews closing out the meet.
In the field events, Fayetteville State saw multiple competitors gain championship experience in the women's triple jump, led by freshman
Cheyenne Walker, who recorded a best mark of 10.87 meters. Senior
Mia Thompson (10.67m) and junior
Mikalyn Chambers (10.62m) also competed, adding valuable depth for the Broncos.
With a balanced mix of veteran leadership and emerging underclassmen, Fayetteville State's third‑place finish shows the program's growth and competitive strength. Anchored by elite distance performances and steady scoring across events, the Broncos left Petersburg with momentum and a place on the CIAA podium.
