Philander Smith's Collins claims Week 8 HBCUAC Runner of the Week, after repeat of Individual Title
NEW ORLEANS - October 21, 2024 - Philander Smith University women's cross country athlete Ja'Neisha Collins takes home the Week 9 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week after dominating for her second consecutive individual title at the 2024 HBCUAC Cross Country Championship on Friday.
Collins completed the six-kilometer course in 26:04.02 which was over 41 seconds faster than the runner-up Jewel Cross of Talladega College. Her time was 12 seconds shy of her personal best, which she achieved at the Watson Collegiate Classic last season. This is the second straight season she has earned All-Conference.
She is the first repeat champion in the conference since 2018 and 2019 when Taylor Price of Xavier University of Louisiana won. The title caps off another monumental season for Collins, who was selected as the 2024 HBCUAC Preseason Runner of the Year. She won four of the eight HBCUAC Runner of the Week awards and finished in the top half in most of her races.
Collins will be one of four individuals from the HBCUAC that will compete for the 2024 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women's Cross Country National Championship at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. on November 22.
2024 HBCUAC Women's Cross Country Runners of the Week
|
Date |
Athlete |
School |
|
August 26-September 1 |
Brooklyn Acosta |
Dillard University |
|
September 2-8 |
Ja'Neisha Collins |
Philander Smith University |
|
September 9-15 |
Ja'Neisha Collins |
Philander Smith University |
|
September 16-22 |
Herlancia Miller |
Tougaloo College |
|
September 23-29 |
Ja'Neisha Collins |
Philander Smith University |
|
September 30-October 6 |
JaKatelyn Thomas |
Wiley University |
|
October 7-13 |
Jewel Cross |
Talladega College |
|
October 14-20 |
Ja'Neisha Collins |
Philander Smith University |
-HBCUAC -
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). GCAC 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, 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.