Women's Cross Country 8/10/2020 4:33:00 PM Kevin C. Paige, MSU Athletic Communications

Classic Bear Recaps: Seymour, Lady Bears Make History At MEAC Cross Country Championship

Seymour becomes MSU’s first-ever MEAC Most Outstanding Performer

The medical crisis impacting the nation and the world has caused sports across the globe to come to a standstill for the time being. For example, the Olympics scheduled for the summer of 2020 in Japan has been postponed until 2021.

While we wait on the sports world to get back on track, this is a good time to revisit the illustrious past of Morgan Athletics. Over the next few weeks we will tap into the archives for historic game recaps and stories.

Here's what happened on October 26, 2013:

Morgan State Places 2nd At MEAC Championship; Seymour Named Outstanding Performer
Kevin C. Paige, MSU Athletic Communications

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (Oct. 26, 2013)-The Morgan State women's cross country team fell just five points shy of capturing the 2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship on Saturday, hosted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

The Lady Bears made a leap into the record book, finishing second overall with 57 points, just five points behind repeat champion Florida A&M, which totaled 52 points. It marked the first time in school history a Lady Bears team finished second overall and had four runners who placed amongst the top 15 to gain all-conference honors.

Morgan State was led by graduate student Ashley Seymour, who in her lone season with the Lady Bears, made history by becoming the first woman at Morgan State to win the overall individual title. A native of Washington, D.C., Seymour finished with a winning time of 18:10.00 for the 5k course and also became the first Lady Bear ever to be named MEAC Outstanding Performer. The other three Lady Bears joining Seymour on the MEAC All-Conference Team were: Nyneeya Columbus (5th), Ishakeema Swain (9th) and Kali Kendall (13th).

"As a coach I'm truly proud of all the members of the cross country team who helped to put us in this position," said Morgan State head coach Neville Hodge. "Although we didn't accomplish our goal, which was to win, they all competed like champions."

Two days later Seymour was selected as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) National Division I Athlete of the Week, based on her performance during the MEAC Championship.

It also marked the first time a Morgan State athlete has been selected for the award.

MEAC Championship, 5k
Princess Anne, Md. (UMES)
Saturday, October 26, 2013

Team Winner: Florida A&M, 52 points
Individual Winner: Ashley Seymour, Morgan State (18:10.00)
Morgan State Finish: 2nd, 57 points

Team Finish
1 Florida A&M, 52 points
2. Morgan State, 57 points
3. Hampton, 73 points
4. Norfolk State, 84 points
5. Maryland Eastern Shore, 163 points
6. South Carolina State, 174 points
7. North Carolina Central, 207 points
8. North Carolina A&T, 214 points
9. Delaware State, 228 points
10. Bethune-Cookman, 232 points
11. Coppin State, 284 points
12. Savannah State, 312 points

Morgan State Finishers
1. Ashley Seymour (18:10.00)
5. Nyneeya Columbus (18:43.50)
9. Ishakeema Swain (18:46.20)
13. Kali Kendall (18:53.70)
29. Jada Boyd (20:05.20)
30. Danielle Calhoun (20:06.40)
31. Kiara Jelks (20:06.40)
42. Tere Cooley (20:48.50)

All-MEAC Team
Ashley Seymour
Nyneeya Columbus
Ishakeema Swain
Kali Kendall

AshleySeymour

Bear Bits
▪️The 2013 Lady Bears finished 2nd at the MEAC Cross Country Championship. It was the program's highest finish ever.
▪️As a team, Morgan State won three meets that year, claiming the team title at the UMES Lid Lifter, Hornet Invitational and Delaware State Invitational #2.
▪️Morgan State placed four (Ashley Seymour, Nyneeya Columbus, Ishakeema Swain, Kali Kendall) on the All-MEAC Team.
▪️Ashley Seymour was named MEAC Most Outstanding Performer after capturing the individual title at the MEAC Championship, thus becoming the first Lady Bear to earn that honor.
▪️Seymour finished as Morgan's top finisher in five of the seven meets, including four first-place finishes.
▪️Seymour was a three-time MEAC Cross Country Athlete of the Week selection.
▪️Seymour was named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week (10/28/13) to become the first Lady Bear to receive the award.

FOLLOW US IN CYBERSPACE
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more.
• Follow us on social media:
Facebook: /MorganStateBears
Twitter: @MorganStBears
Instagram: /MorganStateBears

ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Danielle Calhoun: 5' 6"; Senior

Tere Cooley: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Ishakeema Swain: 5' 1"; Junior

Jada Boyd: 5' 6"; Freshman

Kiara Jelks: 5' 0"; Freshman

Kali Kendall: 5' 11"; Freshman

Ashley Seymour: 5' 9"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Danielle Calhoun
: 5' 6"; Senior

Tere Cooley
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Ishakeema Swain
: 5' 1"; Junior

Jada Boyd
: 5' 6"; Freshman

Kiara Jelks
: 5' 0"; Freshman

Kali Kendall
: 5' 11"; Freshman

Ashley Seymour
: 5' 9"; Graduate Student