National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

When the Hampton University men and women race at the 5th Annual Robert Shumake HBCU Challenge – the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) event taking place Saturday, October 5th at the Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. – they will be among many remembering someone who was a major force behind the growth and development of this race.

“I am excited about the 2013 Robert Shumake HBCU Challenge because it has a more sentimental meaning for me this year,” said Pirates coach Maurice Pierce.  “My good friend Cedric Walker passed away last year and he was the founder and the backbone behind this event.  Therefore, it is a must that we continue to compete in this cross country challenge.”

Walker – a board member and irreplaceable, integral part of the NSAF for more than 20 years – passed away the day after the New Balance Nationals Indoor. March 12, 2013.  Who he was as a board member, father, husband, son, brother, friend, and champion of the sport has been captured HERE.  Among the many projects driven by his passion was this Challenge.

Hampton is the 3-time defending women’s champion of the Challenge, having won it every year but the first.  They have a great chance to make it four in a row.  The men’s race, however, could be wide-open with 4-time champ Norfolk State not returning this year.  Student-athletes from 15 other Historically Black Colleges and Universities will toe the line.  The men’s 8-kilometer (4.97 miles) race begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by the women’s 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) race at 10:05 a.m.

“My team is the defending three-time champion of this cross country challenge and I strongly feel as though we are talented and prepared enough to defend this title again this weekend,” added Coach Pierce.  “The course is good and the atmosphere is great, and we look forward to the hospitality and excitement!”

Hampton’s women won in 2012 with 52 points, 71 points ahead of Winston-Salem State University (123), with South Carolina State prevailing in a tight battle for 3rd with 134.

The Pirates are well-equipped to continue their reign.  Seniors Devyn Thompson, Ashley Armand and Nichelle Harris led the winning effort last year in 6th, 8th and 10th last year among 107 women and all of them – also all- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) performers – have returned.  Harris was 2nd overall in 2011, as well, and could be the best bet for Hampton to contend for the individual title.

Winston-Salem State U., from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA), has finished 2nd the past two years in the Challenge.  Aquila Jones, Danisha Wiggins and Kristi Baptiste were the top WSSU runners in their most recent meet, all returnees from last year’s Challenge.

Individually, North Carolina Central (MEAC) junior Amber Brooks won this race as a frosh in 2011 and was 2nd to Bethune-Cookman’s Kadian Dunkley (not returning) last year.  As she’s had a fast start again to 2013, Brooks is the women to beat.  Giving her a good battle should be Virginia State’s Taylor-Ashley Bean, 3rd last year and the 2012 CIAA champ.

On the men’s side, who will be the 2nd-ever champion of this meet now that Norfolk State – which dominated the first four years of the event – is out of the picture?  WSSU was 2nd in 2010 and 2011, before taking 7th last year.  But they’ve lost to graduation their top runner – 2011 champ Andrew Chebii-Singh.

Hampton’s men could do it, and thus have a good chance at sweeping both titles.  They finished 3rd in 2010 and 2011, then were 4th last year but just 9 points out of 2nd.  Freshman Rayon Black and senior Je’Von Hutchinson figure to lead the Pirates.

The 2-3 teams from 2012 will have to be reckoned with, too: North Carolina A&T State and St. Augustine’s.  Those two schools return the top individuals from the 2012 race, as well.  For St. Aug’s, there’s senior Torion Bailey, 6th here in 2012.  Bailey has continued to lead the team this fall and should be considered a top contender to win.  A&T’s Saeed Jones, however, has been up and down; he won a dual with NC Central early in September, but was well back at the Elon Invite a week later as frosh Franky Mills and Darren White led the Bulldogs’ effort.

The winning male and female teams each receive a $1,500 scholarship donation for their schools from the Shumake family foundation and the top two teams will be awarded trophies and watches.  The individual male and female champions are presented with the LaVerne Sweat and Dr. Leroy Walker awards, respectively, and medals will be given to the top 25 finishers in each race.

Eleven schools from the CIAA and five more from the MEAC are entered for both races.  Besides those already mentioned, the CIAA schools are Bowie State University, Chowan University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University, Livingstone College, Shaw University and Virginia Union University.  The other MEAC entrant not already mentioned is Howard University.  Wake Technical Community College is also in the field, and there are additional individuals entered as well.

The Robert Shumake HBCU Challenge is part of the NSAF’s Great American Cross Country Festival, which also includes 13 high school races, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and concluding at 2:00 p.m.

Robert S. Shumake is the CEO of Inheritance Capital Group and also the founder of the Robert S. Shumake Scholarship Relays.  He has spoken of how student-athletes can apply the principals of track and field and cross-country to building a successful career and how events such as the Challenge can “also offer opportunities off the field for socializing, networking and exchanging ideas,” in addition to showcasing exceptional athletes.

Also, all of participating schools’ sports information directors will have an Allstate agent on premise to participate in the HBCU Quotes for Education Initiative.  Allstate and the Tom Joyner Foundation are working with HBCU students, alumni and supporters across the country to raise scholarship funds as part of the fifth annual Allstate Quotes for Education program.  For every person who receives an insurance quote from a participating Allstate agent and mentions Quotes for Education, Allstate will donate $10 to the foundation for general scholarship funds to assist students attending HBCUs.  Participants in this program can also vote for the HBCU of their choice to receive an additional $50,000 donation for scholarships.

In addition to the HBCU races and the other high school races, the Festival will also include a bounce-house for kids, concessions, and other entertainment.  There is no other cross-country event in the nation that creates this kind of opportunity to HBCU student-athletes, as well as their families, friends, and supporters. 

For more information and race-day results for the HBCU Challenge, go to http://www.nationalscholastic.org.

The National Scholastic Athletics Foundation is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to inspire youth to live healthy and active lifestyles, and to prepare them for success.