Men's Team Finishes 4th; Drumwright Earns Elite 16 Honor
The Marauder men's squad recorded a team score of 78 points, clocking a total time of 2:29:29 and an average time of 29:53 in the 8k race, finishing just behind Lane and Tuskegee in a highly competitive field.
Senior Andrew Drumwright led the way with a 9th-place finish, crossing the line in 28:32.3 (5:44 mile pace). His performance not only helped pace the Marauders but also earned him the SIAC Men's Cross Country Elite 16 Award, the league's highest academic honor recognizing both athletic excellence and academic achievement.
Andrew was followed closely by:
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Aaron Drumwright – 13th place (29:29.1)
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Alex Payne – 15th place (29:50.3)
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Qi'Aden Marks – 17th place (30:03.5)
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Ivory Payne – 24th place (31:34.4)
The Marauders showcased depth with five runners in the top 25, demonstrating the growth and balance of the program. Natnael Tewolde and Reyhan Muhammad rounded out the team's top seven.
📊 Team Standings (Men's)
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Morehouse Maroon Tigers men's cross country – 26 pts
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Tuskegee Golden Tigers men's cross country – 61 pts
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Lane Dragons men's cross country – 76 pts
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Central State Marauders – 78 pts
Women's Team Battles to Top-4 Finish
The Marauder women turned in a resilient performance in the 5k race, finishing fourth overall with a total time of 1:58:05 and an average of 23:37 per runner.
Senior Mariah Huston led Central State with an 11th-place finish, clocking 21:29.0. She was followed by a tightly packed group of Marauders that gave the team valuable scoring depth:
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Kaitlynn Jones – 28th place (23:36.4)
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Jasmine Williams – 30th place (23:52.4)
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Jurnie Hemsley – 34th place (24:29.3)
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Aiyana Da'Silva – 35th place (24:38.8)
Additional strong finishes came from Taylor Hayword (38th) and Chanyah Taylor (43rd), helping CSU edge out several conference opponents to secure a top-tier team result.
📊 Team Standings (Women's)
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Albany State Golden Rams women's cross country – 44 pts
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Tuskegee Golden Tigers women's cross country – 57 pts
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Lane Dragons women's cross country – 72 pts
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Central State Marauders – 138 pts
Building a Competitive Foundation
Both Marauder programs showed progress and promise, with improved pack running and individual performances against some of the region's strongest teams. The men's fourth-place team finish — just one point behind third place — marked one of the program's strongest outings in recent years.
Elite 16 Recognition: A Champion On and Off the Course
Senior Andrew Drumwright received the prestigious Elite 16 Award from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, recognizing the top student-athlete at the championship who exemplifies academic and athletic excellence. Drumwright's leadership and consistency have been a cornerstone of the Marauders' success.
Final Thoughts
With both teams finishing in the top four at the 2025 SIAC Championships, Central State continues to elevate its cross country programs. The Marauders will now shift focus toward offseason training and preparation for the the indoor track season.
