The University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s and women’s teams captured the 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship titles Saturday morning at Mount Trashmore Park in Virginia Beach, Va.

The Hawk men won their first MEAC title since the 1995 season scoring 45 total points. The Lady Hawks, who scored 47 points, won their second overall title and their first since the 1983 season.

Maryland Eastern Shore’s Merrecia James and Norfolk State’s Dominic Luka were named MEAC Outstanding Performers. James finished first in the women’s race with season-best time of 18:27.7 and Luka finished with a time of 25:09.2, winning the men’s race.

“We knew it was important to finish among the top 15 in order to have a chance to win, said James."

"Our team talked before the race and we knew that we would have to stay together because we only had five runners compared to some of the other schools, said Luka. We stayed together and even though we didn’t win, we ran a great race."

University of Maryland Eastern Shore head coach Ernest Barrett earned Outstanding Coach honors for both the men’s and women’s teams.

"All season we have stressed running as a pack, as a team. We knew if we were going to win we had to have our team finish among the top 10, explained Barrett. In cross country, I stress working as a team and both teams did that today."

On the women’s side, Hampton, winners of last year’s championship was second (84), followed by Howard (89), Morgan State (100) and Norfolk State (121).

For the men, second place went to the Norfolk State (56), followed by Howard (116), Delaware State (124), and Coppin State (133).