Pratt, Washington Lead Claflin at 2026 CIAA Cross Country Championship

Pratt, Washington Lead Claflin at 2026 CIAA Cross Country Championship

Terica Peay

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SALEM, Va. — Claflin University's men's cross country team secured a fourth-place finish, while the women placed 10th at the 56th Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Cross Country Championship on Thursday at Green Hill Park. Freshman Jael Pratt and sophomore Eureka Washington led the Panthers' efforts, each earning a top-15 individual finish against conference competition.

Washington paced the men's team, crossing the finish line 12th in 27 minutes, 31.6 seconds. The sophomore delivered Claflin's top individual performance on the men's side, helping the Panthers secure a fourth-place team finish.

The men's squad received contributions from its underclassmen throughout the race. Freshman Devaun Rolle finished 22nd in 29:57.1, followed closely by freshman Lavell Irving in 24th at 30:01.9. Freshman Armon Harris placed 26th in 30:11.5, while senior Kristopher Robinson rounded out Claflin's five-man lineup with a 39th-place finish in 31:47.1.

The Panthers' fourth-place result reflected a solid team effort, with four runners finishing within a span of less than three minutes behind Washington. The group's performance gave Claflin a strong showing at the conference championship.

On the women's side, Pratt delivered one of the meet's standout performances for the Lady Panthers. The freshman finished ninth overall in 19:56.1, earning a top-10 result and leading Claflin's lineup across the finish line.

Sophomore Jamiya Carter followed in 43rd place with a time of 24:31.3. Junior Alannah Dixon finished 53rd in 25:52.3, while senior Brea Childs crossed the line 58th in 26:37.8. Freshman Allyson Watson placed 60th in 27:31.1, and senior Zhaire Mack finished 66th in 31:21.4.

The Lady Panthers finished 10th overall, with Pratt's ninth-place showing highlighting the team's effort on the championship course.

Claflin's performances were led by a pair of young runners in Washington and Pratt, whose top-15 finishes provided bright spots for the program at the conference meet. With a fourth-place finish from the men and a 10th-place result from the women, the Panthers closed out their CIAA championship competition with contributions from athletes across all four collegiate classes.

Men's Championship Recap
Top Three Men's Team Finishes
  1. Fayetteville State University: 26 points
  2. Virginia Union University: 29 points
  3. Virginia State University: 99 points
Top 15 Men's Finishers | All-CIAA Recognition
  1. Franklin Kipchirchir | Fayetteville State | 17:56.9
  2. Abel Kipkemboi | Virginia Union | 18:00.3
  3. Allan Kipkorir | Virginia Union | 18:05.7
  4. Brian Kiprop | Fayetteville State | 18:58.0
  5. Dominic Malel | Fayetteville State | 19:01.9
  6. Rodger Korir | Virginia Union | 19:17.5
  7. Rowny Kipchirchir | Fayetteville State | 19:21.1
  8. Marcus Merritt II | Virginia Union | 19:29.2
  9. Ian Kiprono | Fayetteville State | 19:30.7
  10. Keon Koonce | Virginia Union | 19:30.8
  11. Emmanuel Williams | Virginia State | 20:00.7
  12. Eureka Washington | Claflin | 20:31.6
  13. Brandon Jeffers | Livingstone | 20:47.5
  14. Collin Serem | Fayetteville State | 21:10.8
  15. Nellie Ambriton | Bluefield State | 21:30.0
Men's Individual Champion: Franklin Kipchirchir | Fayetteville State University | 17:56.9
Men's Team Champion: Fayetteville State University
Men's Coach of the Year: Frank Hyland | Fayetteville State University

Women's Championship Recap
  1. Fayetteville State University: 25 points
  2. Winston-Salem State University: 52 points
  3. Virginia Union University: 70 points
Top 15 Women's Finishers | All-CIAA Recognition
  1. Faith Kiplimo | Fayetteville State | 18:10.1
  2. Ann Badawi | Winston-Salem State | 18:41.0
  3. Vivian Kiprono | Fayetteville State | 19:01.8
  4. Videlma Jebet | Fayetteville State | 19:07.8
  5. Natalie Young | Virginia Union | 19:13.1
  6. Faith Rotich | Fayetteville State | 19:17.2
  7. Rainn Sheppard | Winston-Salem State | 19:44.3
  8. Elicia Bryant | Winston-Salem State | 19:49.3
  9. Jael Pratt | Claflin | 19:56.1
  10. Ava Millner | Winston-Salem State | 19:56.6
  11. Ashley Bell | Fayetteville State | 20:05.5
  12. Kiera Coleman | Virginia State | 20:14.4
  13. Pelisha Kosgei | Fayetteville State | 20:19.9
  14. Toni MiddleBrooks | Virginia Union | 20:36.3
  15. Genesis Lee | Bluefield State | 20:37.7
Women's Individual Champion: Faith Kiplimo | Fayetteville State University | 18:10.1
Women's Team Champion: Fayetteville State University
Women's Coach of the Year: Frank Hyland | Fayetteville State University

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For complete coverage of Claflin Athletics, follow us on social media at @claflin_athletics (Instagram) or Claflin University-Athletics (Facebook), or visit the official home of the Panthers at www.athletics.claflins.edu.
 
About Claflin University Athletics
Claflin University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II institution that sponsors 13 intercollegiate sports. The university's athletic program includes volleyball; women's flag football; men's and women's cross country; men's and women's basketball; softball; men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field; and baseball. Claflin's teams compete primarily in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), while the baseball program competes in the Peach Belt Conference.
 
 
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