UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
MEAC / CIAA / SIAC XC: Howard's women and Norfolk State's men captured the 2003 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship titles, Saturday morning at Hagan-Stone Park in Greensboro, N.C. Howard picked up their second straight title, while Norfolk State captured their fourth consecutive title. Howard's Tasha Harris (So., Jacksonville, Fla.) finished first in the women's race with a time of 18:47. Harris was named the MEAC outstanding performer for the second straight year. Norfolk State's Joseph Terer (Sr., Nairobi, Kenya) picked up outstanding performer honors on the men's side, with a first place finish of 25:23. On the women's side, Hampton was second (41), followed by Norfolk State (78), and Maryland-Eastern Shore (107). For the men, Howard (65) and Maryland-Eastern Shore (70) ran a close race to finish second and third behind Norfolk State. Hampton finished fourth (120).
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association held its annual women's and men's cross country championship at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, NC. Host institution Saint Augustine's regained the women's title from city rival Shaw. Maria Medina, who won the 5K course in 19:51.6, led the way for the Lady Falcons gaining her first XC championship title. Four other St. Augustine's women finished in the top ten. Jennifer Fisher-Sterling, Santisha Martin, Dana Robinson and Shardae Whitter joined Medina for all-conference honors. Saint Augustine's fought off N. C. Central by three points to extend its five-year reign as the men's champion. Larry Marshall won his first 8K championship title in 25:49.9. In addition to the champion, three other Falcon runners (James Holden, Israel Jaimes, and Christopher Walkes) finished in the top ten while the final scorer finished 11th to combine for 30 total points. Runner-up was NC Central while Shaw finished third.
Fort Valley State's women and Morehouse's men captured the SIAC Cross Country Championships. FVSU won their event with a score of 21 points followed by Albany State (45) and Paine (114). Lady Wildcat Vanessa Najera was the women's individual champion. Morehouse won the men's event for the 10th consecutive year with 19 points. Albany State (72) finished second and Clark Atlanta (85) was third. Maroon Tiger Josiah Lagat captured the men's individual title.
© 2003 Azeez Communications, Inc.