The Fayetteville State University men's and women's cross country teams will begin the 2026 season today at the Queens City Invite in Charlotte, N.C., ushering in a new era under head coach Frank Hyland. The meet features a strong field of 32 men's and women's programs and will provide the Broncos with an early-season opportunity to compete against top regional talent and cross-divisional competition.
Hyland takes the reins of both programs after serving as the Broncos' associate head coach. A nationally recognized leader in collegiate cross country and track & field, Hyland brings more than 29 years of coaching and sports administration experience. A native of Trinidad & Tobago, he has coached at the NAIA and NCAA Division II levels and has built championship programs throughout the CIAA and SIAC. Known as an exceptional recruiter, mentor, and program builder, Hyland's coaching philosophy centers on discipline, accountability, and competitive excellence.
The Broncos enter the season following another historic campaign in 2025. The Fayetteville State women captured their eighth consecutive CIAA championship behind an impressive performance from Faith Kiplimo, who won the individual conference title with a time of 18:12.9 and was named the 2025 CIAA Female Runner of the Year. She was joined atop the leaderboard by teammates Videlma Jebet, who finished second in 18:43.5, and Pelisha Kosgei, who claimed third place in 18:52.0.
On the men's side, Brian Kiprop earned individual championship honors after winning the CIAA 8K race in 24:19.7, helping lead the Broncos to the conference team title. Kiprop was named the 2025 CIAA Male Runner of the Year and was followed by teammate Franklin Kipchirchir in second place with a time of 24:23.0. Dominic Malel added a fourth-place finish, while Rowny Kipchirchir placed fifth to secure another dominant showing for Fayetteville State.
Following their conference success, both programs excelled at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championships. The women's team finished sixth overall, while the men's team placed fourth in a highly competitive field. Kiplimo continued her standout freshman campaign by finishing third in the women's 6K race with a personal-best time of 21:24.20.
The men's squad delivered one of the top performances in program history at the regional meet. Kiprop captured the individual championship in the 10K race with a personal-best time of 30:19.40, while Franklin Kipchirchir finished runner-up in a season-best 30:20.80. As a result of their performances throughout the season, Kiplimo, Kiprop, and Franklin Kipchirchir each earned berths to the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Friday's season opener will allow the Broncos to measure themselves against a deep field that includes fellow CIAA institutions Johnson C. Smith, Shaw, and Virginia Union. With returning conference champions, national qualifiers, and a new head coach leading the way, Fayetteville State begins the 2026 campaign poised to remain among the premier cross country programs in the CIAA and the Atlantic Region.
