Wiley's Thomas wins Week 6 HBCUAC Women's XC Runner of the Week
NEW ORLEANS - October 7, 2024 - After running a personal best, Wiley University women's cross country athlete JaKatelyn Thomas claims the Week 6 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week award for her performance from September 30 to October 6, the conference announced on Monday.
Thomas finished the five-kilometer course at the Dallas Baptist University Old Glory Gallop in 26:28, which topped her previous best by over a minute. She has led the Lady Wildcats in all three meets she ran. Thomas competed against over 400 athletes from National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) schools.
Thomas and the Lady Wildcats will compete in their final meet before the 2024 HBCUAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships at Ouachita Baptist University's Tiger Invitational on Friday.
Additional HBCUAC women's cross country weekly nominees: Brooklyn Acosta (Dillard), Julianna Hartford (Philander Smith), Ta'Mya Sims (Tougaloo)
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 |
-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.