SALEM, Va. – The Bowie State University men's and women's cross-country teams concluded their 2026 campaigns Thursday, Oct. 22, competing at the 56th Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Cross Country Championships at Green Hill Park in Salem, Va. The Bulldogs closed the season against the conference's top competition, with the women's team placing seventh overall while the men's squad was led by strong individual performances from Sean Trader and Chase Garcia.
The CIAA Championships marked the final meet of the 2026 season for both Bowie State squads after a campaign that featured several strong individual and team performances.
Bulldogs Close Season at CIAA Championships
The Bowie State women's team finished seventh in the conference championship with 194 points and a combined team time of 2:01:39, averaging 24:19 per runner. Fayetteville State captured the women's team championship with 25 points, followed by Winston-Salem State with 52 points and Virginia Union with 70 points.
The Bulldogs were led by Leilani Gibson, who earned a 20th-place finish in the 5K with a time of 21:36.6. Gibson averaged 6:57.3 per mile and was the first Bowie State runner across the finish line.
Emetem Bezezuh followed Gibson with a 23rd-place finish in 21:54.0, while Destinie Mayo crossed the line 31st overall in 22:43.4. Janelle Morrisey finished 55th in 26:19.3, and Skye Sargent-Thomas rounded out the Bulldogs' scoring five with a 65th-place finish in 29:06.1.
Gibson, Bezezuh and Mayo provided consistent production throughout the season and continued that trend on the conference championship stage. Gibson and Bezezuh also finished among the top five for Bowie State at the team's final regular-season meet at Lincoln.
Trader Leads Bulldog Men
The Bowie State men's team was paced by Sean Trader, who finished 20th overall in the 8K with a time of 29:33.3. Trader averaged 5:56.7 per mile and once again served as the Bulldogs' top finisher.
Chase Garcia followed with a 37th-place finish in 31:09.8, while Tyler Bowling crossed the line 58th in 35:31.2. Mason Patterson completed the course in 38:04.1, finishing 66th overall.
Bowie State did not receive a team score in the men's championship because only four Bulldogs completed the race, while Raynard Moulden Jr. was listed as did not start.
Despite not recording a team score, Trader and Garcia continued to provide strong individual performances for the Bulldogs.
Season of Growth for the Bulldogs
The 2026 campaign featured continued development from both Bowie State squads as the Bulldogs competed against CIAA and regional competition throughout the season.
The women's team demonstrated its potential throughout the year, highlighted by third-place finishes at both the HBCU Cross Country Challenge and the Lincoln University XC Invitational Tune Up. Gibson, Bezezuh and Mayo consistently provided the Bulldogs with a strong front-running group heading into the conference championship.
On the men's side, Trader and Garcia established themselves as consistent leaders throughout the campaign. Trader finished among the Bulldogs' top runners at multiple meets, while Garcia continued to provide valuable support near the front of the Bowie State lineup.
Bulldogs Conclude 2026 Campaign
With the conclusion of the CIAA Championships, Bowie State has officially wrapped up its 2026 cross-country season. The Bulldogs will now turn their attention toward continued development as they prepare for the next chapter of their distance-running programs.
The 2026 season provided Bowie State with valuable championship experience, strong individual performances and opportunities to compete against some of the top runners and programs in the CIAA.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, please visit BSUBulldogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on social media.
