Norfolk State men complete MEAC track sweep with outdoor title, while women finish as runners-up
Before this weekend, Norfolk State never had hosted the MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
But the Spartans got that chance this weekend, and they took full benefit of “home-field advantage” as the men won the MEAC outdoor title and the women finished as runners-up at Dick Price Stadium.
The NSU men finished with 192.5 points, followed by Howard (163.5) and Delaware State (95.5). Howard’s women won with 226, followed by the Spartans (166) and Morgan State (117).
The Spartans’ men completed the MEAC sweep of cross country, indoor track and outdoor track titles. The last time that happened was 2013.
“It’s special because we did it in front of our home fans and all of our supporters,” Norfolk State coach Kenneth Giles said. “And to do it on our brand-new upgraded facilities, it’s special.”
The men were led by Evans Cheruiyot. The junior from Kenya won the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9 minutes, 28.33 seconds), the 10,000 meters (32:21.55) and the 5,000 meters (15:19.54).
“I’m just so happy and so thankful for myself and the team,” said Cheruiyot, who was named the MEAC Men’s Most Outstanding Track Performer. “It was tough, but because of the practices and exercises, I knew I would win.”
Regan Kimtai won the 1,500 (3:57.78) and finished runner-up in the 3,000 steeplechase. Meshack Kipchirchir was second in both the 10,000 and 5,000.
Other winners included Joshua Peterson in the long jump (25 feet, 1¼ inches), Jordan Williams in the 400-meter hurdles (51.87) and the 4x100 relay of Kai Cole, Anthony Franklin, Bryan-Madison Ahouman and Savien Hayes, who ran 40.12. Cole also placed runner-up in both the 100 (10.29) and 200 meters (20.92).
Williams’ victory in the 400 hurdles was a surprise because it was only his fourth time competing in the event.
“We moved him to the 400 hurdles because he ran 45 seconds in the open 400,” Giles said. “But he was a 300 hurdler in high school, so we knew he had a hurdling background. That’s why we made a conscious decision to move him to the 400 hurdles, and it paid off.”
Williams, a senior transfer from Bethune-Cookman, started running the hurdles in March. He continued to make great strides.
“I trusted the process and listened to my coaches and my team,” said Williams, who is from St. Petersburg, Florida. “To have this gold medal in my hand, I feel like I’m on top of the world.”
The women were led by thrower Leslie Young. The freshman from Norcom High in Portsmouth scored 31 points as she won the javelin (120-10), was second in the both the discus (137-4) and shot put (43-10) and was fourth in the hammer throw (154-4). She was named the MEAC Women’s Most Outstanding Field Performer.
“It means everything because in indoors, I almost got it,” she said. “But coming into outdoors, I knew I had four events and that I’d have a chance to win it. I’m really proud of myself because this is exactly what I wanted to do.”
The Spartans also got a victory from Kara Grant in the 1,500 meters. The junior from Jamaica made a late push in the final 150 meters to catch Howard’s Melanie White at the finish line. Both were listed at 4:48.61, but Grant won by five-thousandths of a second.
Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com Follow @LHRubama on Twitter.
