ALBANY, Ga. – The Albany State University women's cross country team will look to continue its championship tradition on Friday, November 6, as the Golden Rams travel to Macon, Georgia, to compete in the 2026 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Cross Country Championship at the Georgia Premier Cross Country Course. The women's race is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Albany State enters the championship seeking its third consecutive SIAC title after capturing conference crowns in 2024 and 2025. Under head coach Robert Smith, the Golden Rams have continued to build on their success, showing steady improvement throughout the 2026 season while competing against strong NCAA Division I and Division II programs.
The Golden Rams are coming off a historic performance at the UAH Chargers Invitational on October 24, where they recorded the fastest team 6K performance in program history. Albany State finished with a combined time of 2:00:35.08 among its top five runners, averaging 24:07.02.
Sophomores Brea Vann, Faith Thompson and Sydney Haywood led the way, becoming the first three runners in program history to finish under 24 minutes in the same 6K race. Vann crossed the finish line in 23:08.00, followed by Thompson at 23:12.67 and Haywood at 23:30.73.
Haywood's performance also earned her SIAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week honors, adding another conference recognition to Albany State's impressive season.
The Golden Rams have continued to demonstrate their depth throughout the year, with Zahriya Sullivan, Jehzaria Middleton, Charity Tukes and Jayda Spikes contributing valuable performances as the team prepares for postseason competition.
Albany State's preparation has included challenging meets at Georgia Tech, Florida State and Alabama Huntsville, allowing the Golden Rams to gain experience against high-level competition while improving their times.
Friday's championship will bring together the conference's top women's cross country programs, with Albany State looking to defend its title and secure a third consecutive conference championship.
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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 12 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
