Albany State Claims Third Consecutive SIAC Championship in Macon
Three years, three championships, and an undeniable standard of excellence define the latest chapter for the Albany State University women’s cross country team. Competing at the Georgia Premier Cross Country Course in Macon, Georgia, the Lady Golden Rams delivered a commanding performance on Friday morning, capturing their third consecutive conference title with a total of just 22 points, as reported by thesiac.com.
That dominant score left the rest of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference far behind. Second-place Tuskegee finished a distant second with 65 points, followed by Spring Hill with 108, Allen with 116, and Edward Waters rounding out the top tier with 158 points. Albany State’s path to the crown hinged on remarkable depth, placing all five of its scoring runners inside the top eight finishers of the field.
Brea Vann Leads Historic 1-2 Finish
Leading the entire field of runners, sophomore standout Brea Vann claimed the individual SIAC Championship by finishing the women’s 5K race in 19:51.3. This triumph represented a major milestone for the program as she became the first Albany State runner to secure the individual conference title since Channelle Wong accomplished the feat in 2017.
Congratulations to the Albany State University Golden Rams, the 2026 SIAC Women's Cross Country Champions! 🏆#SIAC | #SIACWXC | #LeadersRiseHere pic.twitter.com/RmfzwacA4X
Vann’s morning yielded multiple accolades, including SIAC Women’s Runner of the Year honors and an SIAC Elite 17 recognition for her combined athletic and academic achievements. Fellow sophomore Faith Thompson followed right behind her, crossing the finish line in 20:10.3 to take second place overall. This 1-2 punch marked the first time Albany State teammates finished first and second at the conference championship since Wong and Aaliyah Howard achieved the same feat in 2017.
Depth and Strategy Drive the Lady Golden Rams
Head coach Robert Smith earned SIAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year honors after orchestrating the title run. Following the race, Smith credited his team’s disciplined execution, emphasizing that the runners entered the course fully focused on setting the early pace and sticking to their strategy.
That tactical execution showed up clearly down the finish chute. Sydney Haywood secured fifth place in 21:08.0, while Zahriya Sullivan came in sixth at 21:08.5. Charity Tukes completed the scoring five with an eighth-place finish in 21:25.8. Further back in the pack, Jehzaria Middleton took 11th with a time of 21:50.8, and senior Jayda Spikes finished 20th in 23:56.3 to cap off the team’s strong scorecard.
| Runner | Position | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Brea Vann | 1st | 19:51.3 |
| Faith Thompson | 2nd | 20:10.3 |
| Sydney Haywood | 5th | 21:08.0 |
| Charity Tukes | 8th | 21:25.8 |
With the conference crown secured for the third straight year, Albany State now pivots its preparation toward the upcoming NCAA regional competitions.
