By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS | Sports
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Alabama A&M University women’s cross-country team showed grit and determination with a 10th-place finish at the Upstate Invitational on Saturday, held at the Milliken Research Center in South Carolina.
The meet served as the Lady Bulldogs’ final tune-up before the upcoming Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Cross Country Championships, and the team made every stride count. AAMU totaled 274 points, earning 10th place in a competitive field of Division I programs.
Jacksonville State captured the team title with 35 points, followed by the College of Charleston (63) and UNC Asheville (79).
Leading the charge for Alabama A&M was Laura Avila, who crossed the finish line in 18:40.0 to secure 34th place overall. Sanyae Gibson finished close behind at 38th (18:44.9), while Brianna Samuels placed 55th (18:58.7). Minka Isom came in 82nd (19:31.6), and teammates Nevaeh Carrizal (20:03.5) and Kayla Fluker (22:33.1) rounded out the scoring lineup.
Jacksonville State’s Viola Jepleting claimed the individual title, finishing in 17:28.5 to lead her team to victory.
Head Coach Lashandra Holmes praised her runners for their focus and improvement throughout the season.
“Our women have trained hard and continue to compete with heart,” Holmes said. “This was a strong effort against a talented field, and we’re ready to bring that same energy to the SWAC Championships.”
The Lady Bulldogs will conclude their season on Monday, October 27, at the SWAC Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida.
For full coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics, visit www.aamusports.com or follow @aamuathletics on social media.