ASU cross country hopes different paths lead to titles

ALBANY — When Albany State’s 2016 cross country seasons begin on Sept. 3, the Golden and Lady Rams will all have the same realistic goals. However, the two teams will take different paths to get there.

ASU’s men’s team will be depending on a veteran group to lead it out of an extended drought. On the women’s side, the Lady Rams will once again field another young squad, but the team improved with individual talent.

The two units will be looking for progression after the 2015 editions finished in third place at the SIAC Championships. Both teams will also be looking to compete at the NCAA Championships this fall.

Women’s Cross Country

The Albany State women’s cross country program is accustomed to generating in success at the SIAC Championships. With 10 titles in their history (the last coming in 2012) and usually finishing as one of the top two team annually, the youthful Lady Rams are anxious to prove they still have an abundance of talent.

Albany State’s hope for the 2016 SIAC title and qualification for the NCAA championships will begin with junior Aaliyah Howard. A native of Hinesville, Ga., the 5-5 Howard placed fourth at the 2015 conference championship with a time of 21:13.88. She was named to the 2015 SIAC All-Conference team.

Raelyn Brown, is the other returning letterman for ASU. The 5-2 sophomore from Luella, Ga. earned the 24th spot at the 2015 SIAC Championships. She recorded a time of 23:24.47.

The core of newcomers includes transfers Shamicah Tardy (5-5, Albany, Ga. ) and Roneisha Scott (5-3, Port Wentworth, Ga.) freshmen Kashia Darville (5-2, Stuart, Fla.), Ul’Ondrea Johnson (5-3, Gainesville, Fla.), Mizani Simpson (5-2, Duluth, Ga.) and Channelle Wong (5-7, Jamaica, NY). Wong won a two cross country titles while competing at Francis Lewis High School.

Men’s Cross Country

With five of last year’s six runners returning and the addition of two proven runners, Albany State will be looking to end a 30-year drought with SIAC titles. ASU’s last league champion was crowned in 1986.

After a stellar freshman season, sophomore Kamil Jones (5-9, 160 lbs) returns as the Golden Rams’ top runner. Last year, he finished in eighth place at the SIAC championships with a time of 28:28.12. Jones, a native of Douglasville, Ga., was also named to the 2015 SIAC All-Conference team.

Team captain Jamorris Hill, a 5-10, 164-lb junior from Hinesville, Ga, narrowly missed finishing in the Top 10 at the league championships. He returns after clocking in at 28:50.03 at the SIAC Championships, which was seven seconds from 10th place.

Another native of Hinesville, Ga., Khaleed Barrett, is also back for Albany State. The 5-8, 135-lb junior recorded a time of 29:20.77 at the SIAC championships, which was good enough to finish in 15th place.

Sophomores Martin Jones (6-2, 156-lb) and D’Shaun James (5-10, 140-lb) round out the list of returnees. James finished in 23rd place at last season’s conference event with a time of 30:39.85.

The men’s cross country program welcomes newcomers Joshua Ajiero and Robert Grooms.

Ajiero, a 6-0, 160-lb redshirt freshman from Tifton, Georgia, joins the cross country team after a year with Albany State Track & Field. At the 2015 SIAC Track & Field Championships, he placed second in the 800-meter run.

The freshman Grooms also brings some cross country success to the Golden Rams. The 6-5, 180-lb Leesburg, Ga. native won a regional championship in the highest classification in Georgia (AAAAAA) during his senior year at Lee County High School.