Alabama A&M’s Avila earns SWAC Runner and Newcomer of the Week honors

—

September 11, 2025

NORMAL — It was a double dip of awards for Alabama A&M cross country runner Laura Avila this week.

A junior from Medellin, Colombia, Avila was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner and Newcomer of the Week.

Avila posted a top-15 finish at the Belmont Opener as she ran the 5,000-meter course in 19:03.8 to place 14^th.

The Bulldogs tallied 122 points to finish fifth, while Vanderbilt won the meet with 43 points. Belmont was second with 48 points, followed by Lipscomb (63) and Western Kentucky (74). Austin Peay finished sixth with 153 points and Tennessee State rounded out the field with 200 points.

Avila and her A&M teammates return to action Friday morning at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville’s John Hunt Park.

Recent in Sports

Bob Jones advances to first-ever boys soccer state championship appearance

Mecca Musick — 6 hours ago

For the first time in school history, the Bob Jones High School boys soccer team is headed to the state championship. The Patriots secured their spot in the Class 7A […]

Huntsville native Stewart Cink prevails at Regions Tradition in Birmingham

Michael Brauner — 3 days ago

Another edition of the Regions Tradition has come and gone at Greystone Golf & Country Club in Birmingham, and the champion was a popular one among the crowds in the Yellowhammer State. Huntsville […]