MACON, Ga. – Three years. Three championships. One dynasty.
The Albany State University women's cross country team continued its dominance of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), capturing its third consecutive conference championship on Friday morning at the Georgia Premier Cross Country Course in Macon, Georgia.
The Lady Golden Rams delivered a commanding performance, finishing with just 22 points to secure the championship over second-place Tuskegee, which totaled 65 points. Albany State placed all five scoring runners inside the top eight, showcasing the depth and consistency that have fueled its championship run.
Sophomore standout Brea Vann led the charge, capturing the individual SIAC Championship with a time of 19:51.3 in the women's 5K race. Vann's victory marked a historic milestone for the program, as she became the first Albany State runner to claim the individual conference title since Channelle Wong accomplished the feat in 2017.
Vann's outstanding performance earned her SIAC Women's Runner of the Year honors, adding another accolade to her impressive season. She was also recognized as an SIAC Elite 17 honoree, highlighting her accomplishments both athletically and academically.
Fellow sophomore Faith Thompson followed closely behind, finishing second overall with a time of 20:10.3 to complete a historic 1-2 finish for the Lady Golden Rams.
The duo became the first Albany State teammates to finish first and second at the SIAC Championship since Wong and Aaliyah Howard achieved the same feat in 2017, further cementing their place in program history.
Head coach Robert Smith was also recognized for his leadership, earning SIAC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year honors after guiding Albany State to its third consecutive conference championship.
Following the championship performance, Smith credited his team's ability to execute the race plan. He emphasized that the Lady Golden Rams entered the championship focused on setting the pace and believed his runners successfully carried out that strategy.
Albany State's dominance did not stop there. Sydney Haywood crossed the finish line in fifth place with a time of 21:08.0, while Zahriya Sullivan followed in sixth at 21:08.5. Charity Tukes rounded out the Lady Golden Rams' scoring five with an eighth-place finish in 21:25.8.
Jehzaria Middleton added an 11th-place finish with a time of 21:50.8, while senior Jayda Spikes finished 20th in 23:56.3, contributing to Albany State's impressive overall showing.
With five runners finishing inside the top eight and six inside the top 11, Albany State demonstrated why it remains one of the premier women's cross country programs in the conference.
The championship marks the Lady Golden Rams' third straight SIAC title, extending a remarkable run of success built on determination, teamwork and consistency.
After securing the conference crown for the third consecutive season, Albany State will now turn its attention toward NCAA regional competition, looking to carry its championship momentum onto the next stage.
2026 SIAC Championship – Albany State Results
Team Results
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Albany State – 22 points
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Tuskegee – 65 points
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Spring Hill – 108 points
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Allen – 116 points
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Edward Waters – 158 points
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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).
