MEAC championships set for this Saturday at UMES.
BALTIMORE, Md. (Oct. 27, 2009)-The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will host its 2009 men's and women's cross country championships this Saturday, Oct. 31 on the campus of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in Princess Anne, Md.
The cross country championships will begin with the women's five-kilometer (5K) race at 9:45 a.m., followed by the men's eight-kilometer (8K) race at 10:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The host and reigning MEAC women's cross country champion, UMES Lady Hawks, will compete for their third consecutive title and fourth overall, while the Norfolk State Spartans will vie for their second straight title and ninth overall.
The Morgan State coaches are expecting some good things out of both squads this year. Last year the Lady Bears placed sixth at the championships and this year behind freshmen Ashlee Nievess and Jasmine Savage, who have paced the Lady Bears all season long, along with senior and 2008 All-MEAC selection, Vivian McCollum, look for Morgan State to have several All-MEAC runners.
On the men's side, last year the Bears placed ninth overall, but are looking to finish in the top three this weekend. If that happens, it would be a first in the program's history, which has never finished higher than fourth.
Individually, Morgan State's Justus David currently ranks second behind Norfolk State's Philemon Kimutai and should challenge Kimutai for the individual title. A win by David would make him the first Morgan State men's or women's MEAC cross country champion. Daniel Mutai, Kevon Carter and Isaac Richardson are all looking to finish in the top 15 and join David in earning All-MEAC honors.
Saturday's MEAC championship event is “Adopt A Team Day”. Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite institutions colors to cheer on their favorite teams.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, which is located on One Backbone Road in Princess Anne, Md., will also host the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Cross Country Regionals on Saturday, Nov. 14.
