CIAA Announces 2026 Male and Female Cross Country Performers of the Year
Fayetteville State's Faith Kiplimo and Virginia Union's Abel Kipkemboi earn top conference honors ahead of the 56th CIAA Cross Country Championship

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 20, 2026) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) has announced Faith Kiplimo of Fayetteville State University and Abel Kipkemboi of Virginia Union University as the 2026 Female and Male Cross Country Performers of the Year, recognizing their outstanding achievements, competitive excellence and performances throughout the 2026 season.
The annual honors recognize the conference's top male and female performers who have distinguished themselves through their individual accomplishments, consistency and contributions to their respective programs. The awards are voted on by the CIAA Cross Country Head Coaches Association.

2026 CIAA Female Cross Country Performer of the Year
Faith Kiplimo | Fayetteville State University | Sophomore
Kiplimo established herself as one of the premier distance runners in the CIAA during the 2026 season, earning the conference's top individual ranking among female runners while also ranking fifth in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region.
The Eldoret, Kenya, native delivered several standout performances throughout the season, highlighted by a second-place finish in the women's 6K at the Rams Atlantic Region Preview, where she recorded a time of 22:37.3 against strong regional competition.
Kiplimo continued her impressive campaign at the Royals Cross Country Challenge, recording a personal-best 5K time of 17:38.6 to finish 11th overall. She also opened the season with an 18th-place finish at the Queen City Invite, crossing the finish line in 18:16.9.
Her consistent performances throughout the season also earned her CIAA Female Cross Country Performer of the Week recognition. Kiplimo's achievements and ability to compete among the region's top runners have earned her the distinction of 2026 CIAA Female Cross Country Performer of the Year.

2026 CIAA Male Cross Country Performer of the Year
Abel Kipkemboi | Virginia Union University | Freshman
Kipkemboi emerged as one of the CIAA's top distance runners during his freshman campaign, delivering a breakthrough performance at the Royals Cross Country Challenge on October 9 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Kapsabet, Kenya, native captured first place in the men's 8K Gold race with a personal-best time of 24:11.1, edging Fayetteville State's Franklin Kipchirchir by just one second.
The victory marked a remarkable improvement for Kipkemboi, who shaved nearly 90 seconds off his previous season-best time of 25:41.0, recorded at the Richmond Invitational on October 2. His individual championship helped lead Virginia Union to a ninth-place team finish among 27 scoring teams, with teammate Allan Kipkorir placing third to give the Panthers two of the top three individual finishers.
Kipkemboi's rapid development, individual victory and impressive performances during his inaugural collegiate cross-country season earned him recognition as the 2026 CIAA Male Cross Country Performer of the Year.

56th CIAA Cross Country Championship
The announcement comes as the conference prepares for the 56th CIAA Cross Country Championship, scheduled for Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Green Hill Park in Salem, Virginia.
Student-athletes from CIAA member institutions will compete for individual and team championship honors as the conference celebrates another season of outstanding competition.
Admission is FREE and open to the public. Fans, alumni, families and supporters are encouraged to attend and cheer on the conference's student-athletes as they compete for CIAA championship titles.
Championship Details
Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
Location: Green Hill Park
Address: 2500 Green Hill Park Rd, Salem, VA 24153
Admission: FREE
For additional championship information, visit www.theciaa.com.

About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bluefield State University, Bowie State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University (PA), Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University.
For more information about the CIAA, visit theciaa.com.

Media Contact
Matisse S. Lee
Senior Associate Commissioner, Communications & Marketing, Special Projects / SWA
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
mlee@theciaa.com