CHARLOTTE, NC (October 20, 2025) — The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) will celebrate the 55th CIAA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Green Hill Park in Salem, Virginia. The men’s 8K race will begin at 12:00 p.m., followed by the women’s 5K race at 12:45 p.m. 

The CIAA Cross Country Championship has served as the conference stage for HBCU distance excellence since 1970. This year’s meet brings together institutions from across the conference as they compete for team and individual titles ahead of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional on November 8. 

Defending Champions and Teams to Watch 

Women’s Championship 
Fayetteville State University enters as the defending women’s champion, having captured its seventh consecutive CIAA title in 2024. The Broncos have dominated the regular season, led by an impressive top-five lineup that includes Faith Kiplimo, Videlma Jebet, Pelisha Kosgei, and Repline Cheptoo, all ranked among the top conference performers. Under the direction of Head Coach Inez Turner and Associate Head Coach Frank Hyland, Fayetteville State continues to set the championship standard. 

Virginia State University, led by first-year head coach Elizabeth Allen, features rising talent Rose Muturi and Torie Satterwhite, both top-ten finishers in recent meets. Virginia Union University, anchored by veteran runner Abijah Jepkemboi, and Winston-Salem State University, paced by Ava Millner, round out the contenders expected to challenge for podium finishes. 

Men’s Championship 
Virginia State University returns as the defending men’s champion, bringing back depth across the roster led by Emmanuel Williams, Emmanuel Kipchirchir, and Leo Davis, each of whom finished in the top 25 in recent competitions. 

Fayetteville State University has been one of the CIAA’s breakout stories this season, currently ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Broncos hold four of the top six CIAA times this fall, led by sophomores Brian Kiprop (24:15.3), Franklin Kipchirchir (24:16.2), and Dominic Malel (25:03.1). Virginia Union University is also a major threat, paced by standout freshman Rodger Korir (25:06.9) and Darryl Hawkins, both consistent front-pack runners. 

With multiple programs fielding sub-26-minute talent, the men’s race is expected to be among the most competitive in recent CIAA history. 

Runners to Watch 

Top Women’s Contenders 

• Faith Kiplimo (Fayetteville State) – Tops the CIAA leaderboard with a 17:53.1 5K at the Royals Challenge. 

• Videlma Jebet (Fayetteville State) – Close behind with an 18:26.8 mark. 

• Pelisha Kosgei (Fayetteville State) – Consistent top-five finisher at 18:59.9. 

• Rose Muturi (Virginia State) – Leads the Trojans with a 19:06.0 performance. 

• Abijah Jepkemboi (Virginia Union) – Veteran competitor and 2024 All-CIAA honoree. 

• Ava Millner (Winston-Salem State) – One of the top freshmen in the conference, matching Jepkemboi’s 19:47.5. 

Top Men’s Contenders 

• Brian Kiprop (Fayetteville State) – Leads all CIAA runners with a 24:15.3 at the Royals Challenge. 

• Franklin Kipchirchir (Fayetteville State) – Just one second behind his teammate, finishing in 24:16.2. 

• Dominic Malel (Fayetteville State) – Strong third-place finisher with a 25:03.1. 

• Rodger Korir (Virginia Union) – Freshman phenom with a 25:06.9 performance at the Great American XC Festival. 

• Graysen Manning (Claflin) – A consistent top-five finisher with a 25:17.9 early season mark. 

Historical Milestones and Legacy 

Now in its 55th year, the CIAA Cross Country Championship remains one of the longest-standing conference championships in NCAA Division II. Over the decades, programs such as Fayetteville State, Virginia State, Livingstone, Saint Augustine's and Shaw have contributed to the event’s storied history, producing some of the top HBCU runners in the nation. 

Recent championship history has been defined by program excellence, Fayetteville State’s seven straight women’s titles and Virginia State’s return to dominance on the men’s side demonstrate the depth and balance of CIAA competition. 

Event Information 

Location: Green Hill Park | 2500 Green Hill Park Road | Salem, VA 24153 

Admission is free and open to the public. Fans are encouraged to attend and support their favorite teams and student-athletes as they compete for conference titles. 

LIVE results will be available at SnapTiming.com, and award recipients will be posted following the event at theciaa.com. 

Media Contact: 
Anna M. Butzlaff 
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications 
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) 
abutzlaff@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. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019. 

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.