Dillard runs away with Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Women’s Cross Country Championship for second consecutive year

OAKVILLE, Ala. – Dillard University’s women scored 22 points and placed six runners in the top-10 to capture the 2022 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Women’s Cross Country championship, their second consecutive title. Head Coach Nile Legania was tabbed 2022 Coach of the Year and Alexis Hunter-London Assistant Coach of the Year. The Bleu Devils finished the race with a total time of 1:57.05.

Philander Smith College sophomore Ishmia Black took home the women’s individual title with a first-place time of 21:05.4.

Philander Smith College head back to Little Rock as the 2022 Runners Up, scoring 52 points and finishing with a time of 2:01.23. The Panthers placed two runners in the top-10, with Rust and Wiley each placing one in the top-10.

The top-10 finishers are named to the 2022 GCAC All-Conference Team.

Women 5k Run Team Results
PL Team Total Time Avg. Time Score
1. Dillard — 1:57:05 23:25 22
2. Philander Smith — 2:01:23 24:16 52
3. Wiley — 2:06:40 25:20 67
4. Rust — 2:59:41 35:56 96

Women 5k Run Individual Top-10 Results
PL NAME YEAR TEAM Avg. Mile TIME
1 Ishmia Black
SO-2 Philander Smith
06:47.2 21:05.4
2 Rachel Jackson
JR-3 Dillard
07:11.0 22:19.3
3 Brooklyn Acosta
SO-2 Dillard
07:31.8 23:24.0
4 Jaelynn Hoffman
JR-3 Dillard
07:33.9 23:30.4
5 DeLisha Paul
JR-3 Wiley
07:37.9 23:42.9
6 Karmyn Dotson
SO-2 Dillard
07:40.6 23:51.3
7 Kevell Byrd
SO-2 Dillard
07:43.7 24:00.8
8 Bria Carbo
SR-4 Dillard
07:44.9 24:04.5
9 Ja’Niesha Collins
FR-1 Philander Smith
07:46.5 24:09.7

Philander Smith College Men Win 2022 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Cross Country Title

OAKVILLE, Ala. – Philander Smith College claimed the 2022 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country title at Oakville Indian Mounds, tallying 22 points and finishing with a team time of 2:39:18. Freshman Abel Fitwi of Tougaloo College captured the men’s individual title with a first-place time of 29:19.4.

Philander Smith Head Coach Chris McConnell was named 2022 Coach of the Year.

The Panthers had three runners cross the finish line in the top four to capture this year’s championship.

The Wildcats of Wiley College were the 2022 Runners Up, finishing with a time of 29:57.6 and placing two in the top-10, while the 2021 champions Dillard University Bleu Devils placed two in the top-10.

The top-10 finishers are named to the 2022 GCAC All-Conference Team.

Men 8k Run Team Results

PL Team Total Time Avg. Time Score
1. Philander Smith
2:39:18 31:51 33
2. Wiley
2:43:54 32:46 44
3. Tougaloo
2:51:12 34:14 52
4. Fisk
3:48:11 45:38 102
5. Rust
4:28:48 53:45 132

Men 8k Run Individual Top-10 Results
PL NAME YEAR TEAM Avg. Mile TIME
1 Abel Fitwi
FR-1 Tougaloo
05:53.9 29:19.4
2 Desmond Merritt
SO-2 Philander Smith
06:01.6 29:57.6
3 Maurice Rue-Whitfield
FR-1 Philander Smith
06:05.3 30:16.0
4 Javon Burrell
SO-2 Philander Smith
06:13.2 30:55.2
5 Joseph Levier
SO-2 Wiley
06:18.6 31:22.3
6 DeVonte Williams
SR-4 Dillard
06:22.5 31:41.8
7 Javoun Goldsby
FR-1 Wiley
06:23.9 31:48.5
8 Malik Durant
JR-3 Dillard
06:24.7 31:52.3
9 Trajan Fielder
SR-4 Tougaloo
06:27.1 32:04.5
10 Cameron Copeland
SR-4 Tougaloo
06:27.9 32:08.6

Danielle “Dani” Wright
Director of Strategic Communications
Gulf Coast Athletic Conference