ETTRICK, VA (October 28, 2021)-The VSU Trojans men's and women's cross-country team are nearing their destination as the road to the 2021 CIAA Cross Country 5k Championship is finally upon us. The Trojans will take to the course of Green Hill Park in Salem, VA on October 28 in hopes of claiming the 2021 Championship Title.The team finished second in 2019 but will look to improve to first place this year.
 
 
Head coach Wilbert Johnson and his squad have shown steady growth throughout the course of the year and are looking to peak at the CIAA Championships.
 
"What excites me most is how both teams started running their best times as the season progressed. I get the greatest satisfaction from seeing an individual runner compete and improve, but when an entire team improves, it shows that they all are bought in the team philosophy."
 
 
On the women's side, VSU will have seven student-athletes competing in Postseason Championships in Kyera Frank, Alandina Hyppolite, Manuela Deigh, Manuelene Deigh, Ruby Williams and Jordan Burzynski.  The group is young but does in fact have experience competing in the CIAA championship meet. Frank has been the leader of the team this year as she finished first and second in both home meets this season. She looks to shatter her personal record of 19:23.3 and lift her squad to a first place finish in this year's CIAA championships. Alandina Hyppolite posted a season-low 22:04.2 as her times in each meet have gradually decreased over the course of the season.

When asked about how she plans to continue to PR, Hyppolite said:
 
"It's all about confidence and staying focused for me. These meets are 50% mental so, I just have to keep believing in myself."
 
Two years ago at the CIAA Cross Country Championships, Hyppolite posted a personal record, which was a 21:31.2 with a 6:55.6 mile split. When asked about what doing so well in the last championships does for her confidence, Hyppolite had this to say:
 
"Doing so well last year is a confidence booster for sure. I am going to continue to trust God and my training."
 
 
Coach Johnson mentioned that his teams have shown steady improvement over the course of the season and they are looking to peak this Thursday in Salem, Virginia.
 
"In order for both the men's and women's team to walk away with the CIAA Championship team title, both teams must continue believing in themselves, trust the training regiment, run a smart race, and be able to finish the race with a strong kick to the finish line which I feel like my squads are ready to do."
 
Click HERE for the list of championship events and start times.
 
For the most up-to-date information on VSU cross country, please visit www.govsutrojans.com,follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports and on Instagram VSUtrojans_1882.