KINGS PARK, NY – The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) women's cross country team continued its championship tradition on Saturday, capturing its third consecutive NJCAA Region 15 Championship at the St. Joseph's Invitational, held at Sunken Meadow State Park.

Competing against a competitive field featuring NCAA Division II and III programs, the Tigers delivered an impressive performance, finishing third overall among 20 scoring teams with 107 points. FIT trailed only NCAA Division II programs St. Thomas Aquinas College (80) and the College of Staten Island (93), while finishing ahead of Queens College, Monroe University, Hunter College and several other four-year institutions.

Sophomore Mikayla Numkena led the Tigers with an eighth-place overall finish, completing the 5K course in 20:20.1. Fellow sophomore Anika Selover followed closely behind, placing ninth in 20:57.8, giving FIT two runners inside the top 10.

Freshman Mayelie Mena continued her impressive debut campaign, crossing the finish line in 21:39.4 to place 13th overall. The trio's strong performances helped establish FIT among the meet's top teams.

Sophomore Elsa Marigliano added a 25th-place finish in 22:33.5, while freshman Hermione Granger rounded out the Tigers' scoring five, placing 57th in 24:53.1. Ada Sylvester finished 59th in 25:05.6, providing additional depth for the championship-winning squad.

The performance secured the program's third straight NJCAA Region 15 crown, extending the Tigers' championship streak and highlighting their continued success against both two-year and four-year competition.

Adding to the Tigers' championship success, FIT head coach Howard was named NJCAA Region 15 Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year, recognizing his leadership in guiding the program to its third consecutive regional title.

Under Howard's direction, FIT has continued to establish itself as a leading program in Region 15, consistently delivering strong performances against both two-year and four-year institutions.