HBCU Athletic Conference reveals 2025 Men's Cross Country All-HBCUAC Preseason Team, Rankings

NEW ORLEANS - September 1, 2025 - The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference begins the 2025 men's cross country season with the release of its Preseason All-HBCUAC Team and rankings. 

The team and rankings were determined by the individual and team performance at the 2024 HBCUAC Championship. The top 10 returning runners made up the team. Wiley University senior Javoun Goldsby is looking to defend his title after winning last season's championship with a time of 29:09.7. He captured HBCUAC Runner of the Week in all six weeks the Wildcats ran. The rest of the team is below.

Katavious Gibbs, Philander Smith: Finished fourth at the HBCUAC Championship; NAIA National Championship qualifier

Nevon Taylor, Tougaloo: Finished fifth at the HBCUAC Championship; NAIA National Championship qualifier, helped the Bulldogs win the title

Decquan Nesbitt, Talladega: Finished sixth at the HBCUAC Championship; NAIA National Championship qualifier

Jaylon Donson, Wiley: Earned All-HBCUAC for second consecutive season, one place short of qualifying for nationals
K'Mon Washington, Dillard: Earned All-HBCUAC with an eighth-place finish
Ameariun Harper, Wiley: Earned All-HBCUAC with 10th-place finish
Ashton Neely, Tougaloo: Just missed All-HBCUAC with a personal-best of 31:52, helped Tougaloo win the championship
Kavan Wooten, Tougaloo: Finished 12th with a time of 31:54, helped the Bulldogs win their first conference title

Julian Barnes, Philander Smith: Finished second on his team with a time of 32:29. 

Tougaloo College will look to defend its title after all five of its runners finished in the top 15 last season. Wiley University, which finished second the last three seasons, is looking to take the title this year. It returns all of its runners from last season. The full rankings are below:

1. Tougaloo College

2. Wiley University

3. Stillman College

4. Dillard University

5. Talladega College

6. Philander Smith University

7. Wilberforce University

8. Voorhees University

9. University of the Virgin Islands

10. Rust College

11. Fisk University

12. Huston-TIllotson University

Fans can catch the 2025 action on hbcuac.org. The season will culminate in the 2025 HBCUAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism on October 17 at Oakville Indian Mounds Park in Danville, Ala.

About the 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), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), 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 soccer, 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.