Tougaloo, HBCUAC Individual Qualifiers set for 2024 NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship
NEW ORLEANS - November 20, 2024 - The 2024 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) champion Tougaloo College and individuals Javoun Goldsby of Wiley University, Amos Metto of Stillman College, Katavious Gibbs of Philander Smith University and Decquan Nisbett of Talladega College will run at the 2024 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's Cross Country National Championship at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
The eight-kilometer race will stream on the NAIA Channel of the Urban Edge Network streaming App, which is free to download on streaming devices app stores or watch online. Live results will also be available.
Tougaloo is one of 36 schools competing for the red banner. It claimed the HBCUAC title with five runners finishing in the top 15, led by JaDarrius Nelson, who was the individual runner-up (29:10.30). Nevon Taylor finished fifth, Ashton Neely 11th, Kavan Wooten 12th and Andre' Payne 14th.
The conference's individuals qualified by finishing in the top 15 and not running on the winning team. They are four of the 80 individuals who qualified and will vie for the individual national title along with athletes who qualified with their schools.
Goldsby won the HBCUAC individual title at 29:09.70. He won six of the eight conference Runner of the Week awards. Metto finished third at the 2024 HBCUAC Cross Country Championship (29:58). He won Runner of the Week for September 16-22. Gibbs finished fourth (30:19.20) and Nisbett placed sixth (30:46.70).
The top 40 finishers will earn NAIA All-American.
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About HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.