Lakeland, Fla. – The Albany State University women's cross-country team closed out a remarkable 2025 season in impressive fashion, finishing 16th overall at the NCAA Division II South Regional Championship, hosted by Florida Southern College at Holloway Park. The Lady Golden Rams were the only HBCU program represented in this year's regional field, a powerful testament to the program's growth and competitive rise under the leadership of the ASU coaching staff.
The 2025 campaign was highlighted by Albany State's dominant performance at the SIAC Women's Cross Country Championship, where the Lady Golden Rams claimed the conference title and solidified their spot among the NCAA's best. The conference championship victory marked a major milestone for the program, built on consistency, teamwork, and individual excellence throughout the season.
After securing the SIAC crown, the team took a week off to recover and prepare for the rigors of regional competition, where they would face top teams from across the South. Despite competing against several nationally ranked programs, Albany State proved they belonged among the elite, running with confidence and pride from start to finish.
At the South Regional Championship, freshman standout
Brea Vann led the way for the Lady Golden Rams, clocking a time of 24:07.5 in the 6K race. Vann's poise and endurance set the tone for the team, as she once again proved to be Albany State's anchor throughout the season.
Close behind was
Sydney Haywood, who turned in a strong effort with a time of 24:43.6, followed by
Faith Thompson, who posted a time of 24:56.2 to round out the Golden Rams' top three.
Dasia Gilyard contributed another consistent performance, crossing the line at 25:29.4, while Breona Isaac closed out ASU's top five with a finish of 29:07.7.
Together, the Lady Golden Rams' depth and determination carried them to a 16th-place team finish, a remarkable achievement given the competitive field and the program's continued climb on the regional stage. Albany State's presence at the NCAA South Regional was about more than just competition—it was about representation and legacy. As the only HBCU team in the field, the Lady Golden Rams proudly carried the banner for both the SIAC and Albany State.
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football with all teams compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.
