Fayetteville State University held off a fierce challenge from Virginia Union to clinch the 2026 CIAA Men's Cross Country Championship in a breathless finish.
In one of the most fiercely contested team battles of the championship, Fayetteville State posted a combined total of 26 points to secure the title by a razor-thin three-point margin over runners-up Virginia Union (29 points).
Every position proved vital over the undulating 8-kilometre course, with Fayetteville State’s scoring five packing tightly in the closing stages to withstand a relentless late push from their rivals.
Further down the field, Johnson C. Smith University battled to a 10th-place team finish, accumulating 270 points in a competitive collegiate field.
Bermudian athlete Tajer Basden produced a determined run for the Golden Bulls, negotiating the challenging 8K circuit in a time of 41 minutes 54.3 seconds to cross the line in 72nd position.
Basden and his team-mates fought hard through heavy traffic over the final kilometres to secure their top-10 team classification on a day dominated by high drama at the front of the pack.
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