Alex M. Rivera Athletics Hall of Fame
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2006 Women's Cross Country - Team - 2006
- First HBCU to advance to the NCAA Women's Cross Country National Championships after winning the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship.
- Defeated Lincoln Memorial University by 53 points to win the regional title.
- Repeated as CIAA Champions. Placed 23rd at NCAA Championships.
- Head Coach: Michael Lawson
- Assistant Coach: Musa Williams
- Student-Athletes: Yolanda Barber, Erinn Brooks, Aisha Brown, Ashley Cooke, Lakisha Gantt, Desinia Johnson, LaTanya Lesine.
On Nov. 4, 2006, North Carolina Central University became the first HBCU to advance to the NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country National Championships. The Lady Eagles qualified for the national championship event by winning the 2006 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship held in Wingate, N.C.
NCCU had five runners in the top 20 to take the team regional title. The Lady Eagles posted 61 points, easily outdistancing South Atlantic Conference member Lincoln Memorial University by 53 points.
CIAA Runner of the Year freshman Ashley Cooke (Hampton, Va.) led the Lady Eagles by placing fifth with a 6K time of 23:57. It was a team effort for NCCU, as junior Yolanda Barber (eighth, 24:18), senior Aisha Brown (14th, 24:31), sophomore LaTanya Lesine (15th, 24:32) and freshman Desinia Johnson (19th, 24:49) all finished in the top 20. Other runners for NCCU were Erinn Brooks (22nd, 25:13) and Lakisha Gantt (67th, 26:57).
The top 15 finishers earned All-Southeast Region honors. NCCU led the way with four runners (Cooke, Barber, Brown and Lesine) on the All-Region team.
NCCU head coach Michael Lawson was named Southeast Region Coach of the Year following the meet.
The NCCU women participated on the national stage on Nov. 18, 2006, in Pensacola, Fla.
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