Men’s Cross Country | 11/14/2024 2:46:00 PM
ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Norfolk State cross-country teams look for success on the national stage at the NCAA Division I Southeast Regional on Friday, Nov. 15 at Winthrop University Recreation Complex.
The Event
The men will compete on a 10k course, while the women will be challenged in a 6k course. The men’s race begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by the women’s race at 11:30 a.m.
Outlook – Norfolk State Men
The Spartans look to gain more accolades, coming off a fifth consecutive MEAC Championship on Saturday, Nov. 2.
NSU finished 2-3-4-5-13-21 on the 8k MEAC Championship course with 27 points, capturing the title.
Senior Brian Rotich earned the top spot at the championship meet, clocking in at 23:34.60, placing second. Raphael Kitur followed closely behind finishing in third place (23:59.90).
Senior Victor Jumo took fourth place (24:18.80), while senior Gidion Sigei finished fifth (24:18.80).
Sophomore Basil Koech will also compete for the Spartans at the regional. Koech placed 13th at the MEAC Championships (26:04.40)
Norfolk State ranks 13th in the USTFCCA cross-country regional poll released on Monday, Nov. 4. It is the second consecutive week that the Spartans have been ranked.
Last season, the Spartans finished 15th out of 32 teams competing at the regional. Sigei led the Spartans, completing the 10k course in 29:47.60, finishing 28th place out of a field of over 230 runners.
Outlook – Norfolk State Women
The Norfolk State women’s cross-country team enters the NCAA Southeast Regional, coming off a second-consecutive MEAC Championship on Saturday, Nov. 2.
NSU finished 2-3-5-6-9-13-26 on the 5k course for 25 points to win the championship.
Senior Mercyline Kimaiyo clocked the top finish for the Spartans (17:24.50), placing second. Yvone Sandui closely followed, finishing in third place (17:42.10).
Sophomore Leanna Lewis placed fifth (18:21.40), while sophomore Sonia Koech finished sixth (18:28.60)
Freshman Abigael Chebet and junior Emani Thompson will also compete for the Spartans at the regional. Chebet placed ninth (18:47.70), while Thompson earned 13th (19:07.20) at the MEAC Championships.
NSU is making its second-ever appearance as a team at the NCAA Southeast Regional in program history. Kimaiyo led the Norfolk State finishers at the event, clocking a time of 21:23.40, earning 74th place in a field of over 230 runners.
Norfolk State finished 28th place as a team at the regional last season.
Both teams are led by the most outstanding coach at the MEAC Championships, Kenneth Giles.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
