Hampton and Norfolk State win MEAC All-Sports Trophies
May 19, 2005
GREENSBORO, N.C. --- Hampton University won its fourth consecutive Mary
McLeod Bethune
Women's All-Sports Award, while Norfolk State University captured the
Talmadge Layman Hill Men's Award, the league announced on Wednesday.
Each institution will receive a $25,000 check which will be presented at
the MEAC Spring Delegate Assembly and Committee Meetings in New Orleans
on May 26.
Hampton has won seven overall All-Sports Trophies since joining the MEAC
in 1996 (winning three men's trophies, including back-to-back victories
in 2003 and 2004, and four women's awards).
This is the second Hill All-Sports Award for Norfolk State, as they
captured the 2001 men's trophy.
"I would like to congratulate Norfolk State University and Hampton
University for winning the 2004-05 All-Sports Awards which is symbolic
of the overall strength of their athletics department," said
Commissioner Dennis Thomas. " Both Universities have demonstrated a
commitment to excellence."
Hampton's women finished nine points ahead of their closest opponent
(Florida A&M) with 71 total points. The Lady Pirates captured MEAC
titles in Cross Country and Indoor Track and Field, while finishing
second in Basketball, Tennis and Outdoor Track and Field. Hampton, who
was ousted early in the 2004 Softball championships, picked up nine
points this year after nearly playing in the finals. Florida A&M
finished with 62 points, winning Volleyball and Softball titles, Howard
was third with 59 points, followed by Morgan State with 55 and Maryland
Eastern Shore with 53.
Norfolk State received a big boost form their surprise finish in
Baseball, as the sixth seeded Spartans played North Carolina A&T for the
Championship. The Spartans accumulated 55.5 points. FAMU was second with
55 points and Hampton, who led Norfolk State by 4.5 points heading into
the Spring Championships, finished a close third with 53.5 points.
The Mary McLeod Bethune Award, named after the founder of
Bethune-Cookman College, award the top overall women's athletic program
during the course of one full academic year. The first Mary McLeod
Bethune Award was given in 1987 to Delaware State University. Florida
A&M leads all MEAC schools with nine Women's Awards from 1993-2000.
The men's All-Sports Award is named after the late Talmadge Layman Hill,
a former player and coach at Morgan State, and former Chairman of the
MEAC Steering and Planning Committee, as well as the league's first
President. Howard University was the recipient of the first Talmadge
Layman Hill Award in 1972.
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