UVI Men’s Cross Country Closes Out Season at HBCUAC Championships
DANVILLE, ALABAMA, October 17, 2025 – The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) men's cross country team competed against familiar foes as they closed out their season at the 2025 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Cross Country Championships, hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism. The Buccaneers secured an 11th-place finish in the 8-kilometer race held at the Oakville Indian Mounds Course in Danville, Alabama.
Sophomore Mark Hayes-Ayala led the Buccaneers, being the first from his team to complete the course. At the five-kilometer mark, Hayes-Ayala clocked a time of 19:53.85, just two minutes behind the race leader. Demonstrating impressive endurance, he increased his pace to cover the final three kilometers in 12:34.94. Hayes-Ayala finished 22nd overall, sprinting past another competitor in the final stretch to achieve an official time of 32:28.79.
Junior Rayhan Sabur was the second Buccaneer to cross the finish line. Initially positioned at the back of the pack, Sabur executed strategic moves in the latter half of the race, culminating in a sprint over the final 100 meters. The Flint, Michigan, native completed the course in 37:17.98.
Promising true freshman Muhammad Sabur followed closely behind his brother Rayhan, delivering a remarkable closing performance by overtaking 11 runners in the final three kilometers. His efforts provide an optimistic outlook for the future of the Buccaneer Cross Country program.
Freshman Lance Latare maintained a steady pace throughout the race, while sophomore Gabriel Elcock completed the lineup for the Buccaneers.
As a team, UVI finished with a score of 254 points in the final standings; less than 50 points separated them from the 6th-place team. Wiley University claimed the HBCUAC Conference Title with a total score of 55 points.
"The team performed admirably," stated head coach Dale Joseph. "Although we experienced a slight decline in the final standings, this was primarily due to injuries and the loss of key athletes just before the Championships. Overall, I am confident that the program will be in excellent shape next season, thanks to the young talent on our team. These athletes have shown significant growth and have the potential to be much better in time. I anticipate that the team will be stronger and more competitive the next time we compete."