Fayetteville State’s Franklin Kipchirchir became the first All-American in school history by placing 35th in the NCAA DII 10K.

Franklin Kipchirchir, a Fayetteville State University sophomore, became the first athlete in school history to earn All-American honors by finishing 35th in the men's 10K at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with a time of 30:37.4. His performance marked a historic milestone for the university's cross country program. Three Fayetteville State runners qualified for the national meet this season, including Brian Kiprop (66th, 31:11.1) and Faith Kiplimo (82nd, 21:38.7). Head Coach Dr. Inez Turner praised the team's accomplishments, emphasizing the significance of Kipchirchir’s achievement.