Talladega, Dillard take home Week 4 Women's Cross Country Weekly Honors

Jewel Cross, Karlise Davison and Aliana Taylor rose to the top of the conference in Week 4.

September 23, 2025

NEW ORLEANS - September 23, 2025 - Talladega College's Jewel Cross wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Runner of the Week. Aliana Taylor garners Newcomer of the Week. Dillard University's Karlise Davison earns Freshman of the Week. The women were honored for their performance between September 15-21, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Cross, who is a Preseason All-HBCUAC selection, finished the Fire Hawks Invitational six-kilometer course in 26:44, which is the fastest 6K time in the HBCUAC. She finished in the top half of the race which featured National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics athletes.

Taylor finished the Fire Hawks Invitational in 30:06.03. Her time was third on the team. It was her first 6K event this season.

Davison ran 26:45 in her first career 6K race. Her time led the team and was fourth out of 26 runners.

2025 HBCUAC Women's Cross Country Runners of the Week

Date	Runner	Freshman	Newcomer
Aug. 25-31	Karlise Davison, Dillard	Karlise Davison, Dillard	N/A
Sept. 1-7	Herlancia Miller, Tougaloo	Samaera Womack, Wiley	N/A
Sept. 8-14	Mary Rodriguez, Talladega	Mary Rodriguez, Talladega	N/A
Sept. 15-21	Jewel Cross, Talladega	Karlise Davison, Dillard	Aliana Taylor, Talladega

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.