Lady Pirates capture 2006 MEAC cross country title
10/27/2006 2:53:26 PM
CARY, N.C. – The Hampton University women's cross country team won the 2006 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship title Friday morning at the SAS Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
The Lady Pirates, who scored 63 points, won their second overall title and their first since the 2004 season.
Hampton's Maurice Pierce was named the Outstanding Coach for the women as he directed the Pirate attack that had three runners finish in the top 15.
"Last year's third place finish was unfamiliar to us due to injuries, said Pierce. This year, we were prepared and healthy. This is a plus for us starting out the track and field season."
Hampton was one of the heavy favorites going into the event with six runners ranked among the top 20 in the league this season. Junior Krystle Medlin produced the conferences' best time of 18:47 that she ran at the Norfolk State Invitational on October 7.
Medlin (last year's outstanding performer) was the top finisher for HU crossing the line in 18:09.0 to claim third place. Senior Jitka Vaculikova came in eighth with a time of 19:01.4 and rounding out the top three was senior Charmaine Darden who completed the 5k course in 19:40.9 to place 14th overall.
The Pirates also had strong performances from freshmen Marlene Belezaire and Kenya Jones. The Virginia natives finished within split seconds of each other to finish 18th and 20th respectively. Belezaire finished with at time of 19:51.5 with Jones close behind at 19:51.9
In the women's team standings Howard was second (93), followed by Norfolk State (95), Morgan State (96) and the University of Maryland Eastern (109).
Jessica Neal of Howard finished first in the individual standing women's race with a time of 17:47.3.
On the men's side the Spartans of Norfolk State won their seventh consecutive MEAC title, scoring 25. Second place went to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (97) , followed by last year's runners-up Florida A&M (99), Delaware State (117) and North Carolina A&T (119).
The Hampton University men's cross country team finished ninth with 220 points. Sophomore Brandon Lynch was the Pirate's top finisher clocking in at 28.57.0 for 34th overall.
2006 MEAC Cross Country Championship Results
Women's Team Results Men's Team Results
1. Hampton 63 1. Norfolk State 25
2. Howard 93 2. Maryland Eastern Shore 97
3. Norfolk State 95 3. Florida A&M 99
4. Morgan State 96 4. Delaware State 117
5. Maryland Eastern Shore 109 5. North Carolina A&T 119
6. Delaware State 139 6. Howard 140
7. South Carolina State 173 7. Coppin State 168
8. Bethune-Cookman 176 8. Bethune-Cookman 193
9. Florida A&M 188 9. Hampton 220
10. North Carolina A&T 296 10. South Carolina State 259
11. Coppin State 299 11. Morgan State 263
Top 15 Finishers (Women)
1. Jessica Neal Howard 17:47.3
2. Merrecia James Maryland Eastern Shore 17:59.7
3. Krystle Medlin Hampton 18:09.0
4. Janeth Chelangat Maryland Eastern Shore 18:13.1
5. Betty Chumbe Maryland Eastern Shore 18:16.6
6. Janet Chepkonga Morgan State 18:50.9
7. Fabiana Perlingeiro Norfolk State 18:51.8
8. Jitka Vaculikova Hampton 19:01.4
9. Mallory Ross Delaware State 19:07.8
10. Amanda Stevenson Howard 19:18.7
11. Yatandrea Burke Florida A&M 19:33.7
12. Cuquie Melville Delaware State 19:38.8
13. Melissa Ifie Norfolk State 19:40.5
14. Charmaine Darden Hampton 19:40.9
15. Valonne Givens Bethune-Cookman 19:42.6
Top 15 Finishers (Men)
1. David Kemboi Norfolk State 24:29.3
2. Dominic Luka Norfolk State 25:00.0
3. Alfred Singoei Maryland Eastern Shore 25:07.3
4. Anthony Littlejohn Coppin State 25:39.7
5. Jonathan Soimo Norfolk State 25:42.9
6. Hillary Cheruiyot Norfolk State 26:22.4
7. Brian Griffith Florida A&M 26:40.6
8. Brandon West Florida A&M 26:41.4
9. Rashad Burnette North Carolina A&T 26:41.8
10. Carlos Franklin Florida A&M 26:44.0
11. Keenan Harris Norfolk State 26:54.3
12. Solomon Kirongo Maryland Eastern Shore 26:56.4
13. Liam Arocho Norfolk State 27:35.8
14. Andre Mcdonald Delaware State 27:36.8
15. Kavaugh Brown North Carolina A&T 27:38.5