NEW ORLEANS — The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation has been awarded the bid to host the 2026 HBCU Athletic Conference Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships, the conference announced Tuesday.
The championship races are set for Friday, Oct. 16, at City Park. The women will race a 5K and the men will compete in an 8K. DJ Wild Wayne of Q93 will serve as meet emcee and DJ.
HBCUAC Commissioner Kiki Baker Barnes said New Orleans’ ties to HBCU culture made the city a natural fit for the event.
“New Orleans has such a special connection to HBCUs, and we know our student-athletes will have an outstanding experience competing in a city that understands and embraces our culture,” Baker Barnes said. “We are incredibly grateful to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation for hosting this championship and for its partnership in creating an environment where our student-athletes can compete at their best.”
Jay Cicero, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, said the city is positioning itself as a destination for collegiate sports.
“Bringing the HBCUAC Cross Country Championships to New Orleans reflects our city’s strong connection to HBCU athletics and our continued commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for student-athletes,” Cicero said. “City Park will provide an outstanding setting for this competition and allow athletes, coaches, families and fans to experience New Orleans as a premier destination for collegiate sports.”
Student-athletes from HBCUAC member institutions will compete for individual and team conference titles at the event, which also gives the conference and GNOSF a platform to highlight the growth of HBCU athletics across the region.
Race times, course details and championship-day activities will be announced at a later date.
