During the fall semester, the City University of New York Athletic Conference will look back at some of its historic fall championship teams, recognizing the rich tradition of athletic excellence by the league's 13 member institutions.
On Oct. 27, 2002, the York College Cardinals etched its name into the City University of New York Athletic Conference history books in the sport of women's cross country.
For the first time in school history, the Cardinals captured the CUNYAC Women's Cross Country Championship. Coming off a fourth-place effort at the conference championship the season prior, York put together a strong performance at the iconic New York City venue, Van Cortlandt Park.
Led by head coach
Tim Pope, the Cardinals saved their best effort for the most important run of their season. York placed five runners in the top 18 overall, highlighted by three top-10 completions.
Newcomer
Kenya Benjamin was the CUNYAC Individual Champion in the 5,000-meter race. The freshman was the top performer in a field of 68 runners, completing the course 20:03, 30 seconds faster than the second-place runner. At the time, Benjamin's effort was the second-fastest performance in CUNYAC Championship history.
Not far behind was classmate
Toulope Oji, who completed the race in 21:25 for a fifth-place finish. Running in her final league championship, senior
Sanelisiwe Nkala finished eighth overall with a time of 22:46.
Sophomore
Shakima Thomas was the fourth Cardinal to cross the finish line, placing 12th with a time of 23:09, while classmate
Shamieka Andrews completed the course in 25:10 to finish 18th overall.
York posted a score of 44 points, a 15-point margin over runner-up Hunter, who entered the meet as the reigning five-time CUNYAC Champion.
Kenya Benjamin - 2002 CUNYAC Women's Cross Country Individual Champion
#CUNYAC Fall Throwback Series