Aug. 31, 2009

DID YOU KNOW? On Nov. 4, 2006, North Carolina Central University became the first HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) 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.

As part of North Carolina Central University's Centennial celebration, the NCCU Department of Athletics will post sports history facts from the institution's first 100 years to its official web site, www.NCCUEaglePride.com, every Monday during the year-long observance.