Watch Replay              Final Results

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Alabama A&M Women’s Cross Country program earned their first SWAC Championship in program history on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.

Alabama A&M’s Laura Avila also claimed the Individual title pacing the Bulldogs with a time of 18:16.4. Florida A&M’s Rose Muturi placed second individually with a time of 18:27.9 leading the Lady Rattlers in the event. Alabama State’s Aliyah Williams placed third in the Women’s 5K with a time of 18:31.4.

Alabama A&M led with 37 points as the champions followed by Florida A&M earning 41 points as the runners-up. Texas Southern placed third in the event respectively with 93 points.

Alabama A&M Head Coach, Andrew Murphy was named the 2026 SWAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. A complete listing of the 2026 SWAC Women’s Cross Country individual awards are listed below.
 
SWAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year:
Andrew Murphy, Alabama A&M
 
SWAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year:
Laura Avila, Alabama A&M
 
All-SWAC First Team
Laura Avila, Alabama A&M
Rose Muturi, Florida A&M
Aliyah Williams, Alabama State
Sanyae Gibson, Alabama A&M
Minka Isom, Alabama A&M
 
All-SWAC Second Team
Alyvia Brown, Texas Southern
Christina Fitzpatrick, Florida A&M
Lisel Ndlovu, Bethune-Cookman
Leandra Ferrelll, Florida A&M
Niya Coleman, Florida A&M
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.