The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) women's cross-country team is set to open its 2024 season on Saturday, September 21, at the Embry-Riddle Cross Country Classic in Daytona Beach, Florida.
UVI will compete in a three-meet regular season before aiming for a conference championship in October. Following the season opener, the Lady Buccaneers team will have a two-week break before traveling on three consecutive weekends for competitions on the US Mainland at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida, Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, and at the Historically Black College and University Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Championships in Decatur, Alabama.
Head coach Dale Joseph is returning for his second consecutive year at the helm of the program after leading the team for much of the 2000s. His previous stint with the Buccaneers was from 2007-2020 when UVI experienced success while competing under Joseph’s leadership.
The UVI Lady Buccaneers are projected to finish 10th in the HBCUAC for the upcoming 2024 season and will have two women competing in the season opener, as Gabrielle Quetel and Emma Alexander making their collegiate debut on the course. The team will be without last year's top performer, Ariana Renault, who will not be competing for the Buccaneers this cross country season. Renault's performance was impressive in her first year of competition, finishing just outside the top 10 in the conference Championships at 11th, narrowly missing a medal.
Despite these setbacks, Joseph remains optimistic about the team's future, with Emma and Gabrielle serving as the foundation even as the program undergoes a rebuilding phase.” I like the direction we’re going in. We’ll continue to develop and receive the results we are looking for in due time. Success does not come overnight.”
About UVI Athletics
The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and a member of the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), formerly the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). Entering the 2024-25 season, the Buccaneers will begin their 18th season of athletic competition. As the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the Caribbean, UVI currently sponsors six sports, including men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field. For more information on UVI Athletics, visit UVIAthletics.com.
