Shaw, WSSU Capture CIAA Cross Country Titles

October 20, 2011

Men's Results  |  Women's Results

CARY, N.C. – Shaw University won the men’s title and Winston-Salem State University claimed the women’s crown at the 2011 CIAA Cross Country Championships Thursday (Oct. 20) at WakeMed Soccer Park.

2011 CIAA Women's Cross Country Champions Winston-Salem State University

2011 CIAA Men's Cross Country Champions Shaw University

Both races were tight. Shaw prevailed over defending champion Winston-Salem State by three points, 44 to 47, to take the men’s 8K championship. In the women’s 5K run, Winston-Salem State defended its title by two points, 31 to 33, over Virginia State.

In the men’s race, five Shaw runners finished among the top 15 individually to edge WSSU, led by Andrew Chebii who won his second straight CIAA men’s individual title in 24:32. The running of Brandon Jones (2^nd place), Darius Berry (6th place), Michael Caldwell (10^th place), Leu Yak (12^th) and Lawrence Lewis (14^th place) pushed the Bears to victory.

“I’m just elated,” said Shaw Head Coach William Montague, who received the traditional Gatorade bath from his squad following the awards ceremony. “We got a team effort from the first to seventh runner. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I knew we would have to be competitive against Winston-Salem State and our guys stepped up. We had three kids hurt the whole year, and they put off surgery to finish the season. I am happy for our team.”

The Shaw trio of Jones, Berry and Caldwell made the men’s All-CIAA team. They join Chebii, Desmond Wiggan (3^rd place), Aaron Barnes (4^th place) of Winston-Salem State; Marcelis Lynch and Aaron Dudley of Saint Augustine’s College; Chris Henry of Virginia State and Wilson Bailey of Lincoln (Pa.) on the squad.

Saint Augustine’s College placed third with 75 points and Virginia State was fourth with 90 points. The rest of the teams finished in the following order: Lincoln (Pa.) (5th), Johnson C. Smith (6th), Fayetteville State (7th), Bowie State (8th), Virginia Union (9th), Elizabeth City State (10^th), and Livingstone (11^th).

In the women’s run, Winston-Salem State edged Virginia State on the strength of five top-12 individual finishes. Brittany Killebrew led the way for WSSU with a winning time of 19:11.2 for her second straight CIAA individual crown. Manuela Rigaud (fourth), Tyrah Winfrey (fifth), Kristi Baptiste (ninth) and Ashley Lawson (12^th) gave WSSU the depth it needed for the win.

“We displayed a big heart and the right attitude,” WSSU Head Coach Inez Turner said. “The ladies were tough. “

The Lady Rams placed Killebrew, Rigaud, Winfrey and Baptiste on the all-conference squad. Virginia State placed four runners on the all-conference team – Sierra Clayton (2^nd), Samantha Edwards (3^rd), Jourdan Johnson (6^th) and Jenna Arnold (7^th). The other All-CIAA members are Quanika Blackmon of Shaw and Kelly Shaw of Saint Augustine’s College.

Saint Augustine’s College finished third with 84 points and Virginia Union was fourth with 118 points. The rest of the teams finished in the following order: Lincoln (Pa.) (5^th), Bowie State (6^th), Shaw (7^th), Chowan (8^th), Livingstone (9^th), Johnson C. Smith (10^th), Fayetteville State (11^th) and Elizabeth City State (12^th).