TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida A&M Rattlers women's cross country team turned in a gritty performance at the 2025 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women's Cross Country Championships, showing both determination and depth as senior leader Tara Bert paced the squad with a top-10 finish.

Bert, Green Island, Jamaica native, clocked in at 19 minutes, 10.1 seconds, earning seventh place overall in the 5,000-meter race. Her strong finish against a highly competitive field secured valuable points for FAMU and highlighted her steady leadership in her final collegiate season. Bert was also named All-SWAC Second Team due to finishing seventh. 

Freshman Leandra Ferrell also made her championship debut memorable, finishing in 19th place with a time of 20:29.5, showing promise for the program's future. The Rattlers' pack-running strategy kept them competitive against powerhouse programs like Alabama State and Texas Southern, which placed multiple runners in the top 10.

Texas Southern's Alyvia Brown claimed the individual title with an impressive 18:17.8, while Alabama State took home the team championship behind a trio of top five finishers. But for Florida A&M, the day was about progress and pride — proof that the Rattlers' orange and green are climbing fast in the SWAC distance ranks.