Salem, VA – Virginia State University went into Salem, Virginia with a chip on their shoulders from the 2019 CIAA Championships after coming in second to Virginia Union University. "It's personal this year," said Darrell Dyson prior to the conference championship. The Trojans showed they had a different attitude this year winning the 2021 CIAA Men's Cross Country Championship. Virginia State has now won three of the last four championships dating back to 2017.

The Trojans dominated the course earning 47 points while Bowie State come in second place with 74 and Shaw University finished third with 81 points. The team finished in 2:26.59 with an average of 29:24 minutes per runner. VSU was the only institution to have all of its runners finish within the top-25.

Jalen Brownlee was the first Trojan to cross the finish line with a 28:02.8 with a 5:38.5 mile split, which allowed him to finish with a bronze medal on the afternoon.

Elijah Johnson and Brownlee pushed one another to the max, as Johnson was able to finish in 28:15.8 with a 5:41.1 split, which landed him in fourth place and gave him a new personal-best.

 Next came Darrell Dyson striding through the finish line in 29:27.7 that allowed him to place 10^th in the championship race. The 29:27.7 finish was the lowest time Dyson posted this season and it could not have come at a better time.

Bryce Jordan added another personal-record in the biggest meet of the year posting a 30:25.3, which placed him firmly in the 14^th spot although; he was only three seconds away from finishing a place higher.

Finishing a place away in 16^th place was Patrick Lewis who had an out-of-body experience today crushing his previous personal best by nearly three minutes finishing in 30:47.1.

10 seconds behind his teammate Lewis in 17^th place was Dacarai Clark finishing his race in 30.57.7. Clark was just eight seconds away from his personal record, he set at the top of the October.

Rounding the race out for the Trojans was Gabriel Miles who finished 23^rd of 61 competitors posting a 31:59.7.

The Trojans look to maintain their winning streak for the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons.
 
Final Team Standings
 

1.  Virginia State 47
2.  Bowie State 74
3.  Shaw 81
4.  Livingstone 89
5.  Virginia Union 91
6. Fayetteville State 182
7.  Claflin 203
8.  Elizabeth City State 209
9.  Lincoln (Pa.) 222
10. Johnson C. Smith 222