Claflin Men’s and Winston-Salem State Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Programs Capture 2025 Title

DURHAM, N.C. (May 3, 2024) – On Saturday in Durham County Memorial Stadium, Winston-Salem State University’s Women and Claflin University’s Men were crowned champions at the 2025 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

The WSSU Rams fought valiantly to edge out the defending champions, the Fayetteville State Broncos, by a mere 0.5 points, with final scores of 136.5 and 136, respectively. Claflin University secured third place with a score of 120.5.

Claflin University dominated the men’s competition, scoring an impressive 150 points. Virginia Union University followed closely, earning 143 points, while Virginia State University claimed third place with 93 points.

Head Coach Antonio Wells of Winston-Salem State was named CIAA Women’s Coach of the Year, while Claflin’s Head Coach Malcolm Watts was honored as CIAA Men’s Coach of the Year.

Individual accolades were also awarded, with WSSU’s Charnessa Reid named the Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year and FSU’s Domanique Knowles named the Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. Johnson C. Smith University’s Tyson Williams was recognized as the Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, and Virginia Union University’s Zachary Jones was named the Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year.

FSU’s Knowles also captured the Women’s Field MVP award by contributing 23 points with a first-place win in the high jump, second place in triple jump, and fourth place in long jump. VUU’s Jones earned the Men’s Field MVP Award with 23 points from winning the shot-put and discus throw, and placing sixth in the javelin throw.

WSSU’s Elicia Bryant was named the Women’s Track MVP with her 23-point contribution from first place in the 1500m, second place in the 800m, and fourth place in the 3000m. The Men’s Track MVP went to Claflin University’s Jaevon Riley, who accumulated 22.5 points by winning first place in the 400m hurdles, 400m, and 4x400m relay.

Saturday’s women’s winners were Knowles of Fayetteville State (high jump), Yassine Kamara of Bowie State (discus), Jhnyia Knuckles of Claflin (triple jump), Charnessa Reid of Winston-Salem(100m hurdles), Kamani Johns of Lincoln (Pa.) (400m), Brianna Benloss of Winston-Salem State (100m, 200m), Brenda Cheboi of Fayetteville State (800m), Gabrielle Maye of Johnson C. Smith (400m hurdles), Rose Muturi of Virginia State (3000m), the Virginia State 4x100m relay team, and the Claflin 4x400m relay team.

Saturday’s men’s winners were Javion Watkins of Johnson C. Smith (javelin), Jahaz Morgan of Virginia State (triple jump), Zachary Jones of Virginia Union (discus), Lorenzo Pelham of Bowie State(110m hurdles), Jaevon Riley of Claflin (400m and 400m hurdles), Romar Stapleton of Claflin (100m), Zion Murry of Claflin (800m), Tyson Williams of Johnson C. Smith (200m), Franklin Kipchirchir of Virginia Union (5000m), and the Claflin 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams.

Men’s Final Standings

1. Claflin – 150

2. Virginia Union – 143

3. Virginia State – 93

4. Johnson C. Smith – 91

5. Livingstone – 72

6. Bowie State – 52

7. Lincoln (PA.) – 27

7. Bluefield State – 27

Women’s Final Standings

1. Winston-Salem State – 136.5

2. Fayetteville State – 136

3. Claflin – 120.5

4. Virginia State – 57.5

5. Lincoln (PA.) – 35.5

6. Johnson C. Smith – 32

7. Bowie State – 29

7. Virginia Union – 29

9. Shaw – 20

10. Livingstone – 13

11. Bluefield State – 9

To view the full championship results, navigate here.