University of Maryland Eastern Shore junior Merrecia James and Norfolk State University junior Hillary Cheruiyot were selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Cross Country Athletes of the Week, the league announced on Wednesday.

James (Jr., Portland, Jamaica) finished second among 144 runners in the 5K course at the Towson Invitational with a time of 19:01. As a team, the Lady Hawks finished fourth out of 15 teams. This was the second straight week that James finished as the top performer for the Lady Hawks. She won the UMES Lid Lifter a week ago with a time of 18:53.83.

Cheruiyot (Jr., Eldoret, Kenya) turned in his fastest time of the year in 25:08.70 at the Lou Onesty Invitational hosted by the University of Virginia. Cheruiyot’s time earned him a fifth place finish out of 98 athletes and is currently the fastest time in the MEAC this season on an 8K course.




Other Top Performers:

Jennifer Chichester (NSU) was the Spartans’ top finisher on the women’s side at the Towson Invitational in 19:27, which earned her a 10th place finish.

Ashley Hodges (How) finished first for the Lady Bison and third overall at the Towson Invitational with a time of 19:05.

Trisha LaForce (MSU) was the Lady Bears top finisher for second week in a row with a time of 20:49.54 at the Towson Invitational.

Anthony Littlejohn (CSU) finished first for the Eagles and tenth overall in 27:37.00 at the Towson Invitational.

Peter Sang (UMES) led the Hawks to a fourth place finish with his time of 27:25.02 at the Towson Invitational.