Howard, Wong Lead Lady Rams To SIAC Cross Country Title

Rock Hill, S.C.- Junior Aaliyah Howard and freshman Channelle Wong finished in first and second place, respectively to lead the Albany State women’s cross country team to the 2016 SIAC championship. The 4K event was held in Rock Hill, S.C. and featured 12 conference teams and 69 competitors.

Albany State, who last won the title in 2012, recorded a total time of 1:49:31.42 to run away from the rest of the field. Benedict College, the 2015 league champion, finished second with a time of 1:51:24.52. Paine College, who is coached by former ASU track athlete Michael Hamer, finished in third place, clocking in at 1:55:22.27.

Clark Atlanta was the fourth place team with a time of 1:56:16.32, and Kentucky State (1:55:52.77) earned the fifth place spot.

Individually, Howard won the event with a time of 20:42.87, and Wong finished at 20:50.55. The Lady Rams also had two other Top 10 finishers in sophomore Raelyn Brown (21:44.33), who placed seventh, and ninth place finisher freshman Kashia Darville (21:58.22).

Howard was named the SIAC Most Valuable Player of the meet. Wong, Brown and Darville were also named to the all-conference team for finishing in the Top 10. ASU head coach Kenneth Taylor was named the 2016 SIAC Coach of the Year, but he credited assistant coach Robert Smith for generating the team’s success.

Sophomore Shamicah Tardy (24:15.45) finished in 31^st place, and freshman Roneisha Scott recorded a time of 24:46.43 to place 34^th.

–Via Albany State University