Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's cross country team finished first at the UMES Hawk Challenge Saturday, bolstered by a second-place showing from Merrecia James, while the men's team, edged by Norfolk State, was second.

James (18:23.99) and the Lady Hawks scored 36 points, securing the top spot over NSU by 15. Despite Peter Sang and Amon Kiprotich running first and second in times of 25:24.77 and 25:25.21, respectively, in the men's 8K for the Hawks, the Spartans placed all five of their scorers in the top-seven spots to take the win by 17 points.

Celia Whyte was fifth in the 5K women's event in 18:50.66, followed by Eunice Jones, who was seventh in 18:57.54. Tamica Thomas and Cynthia Anais rounded out the UMES scorers, crossing in ninth and 13th in 19:09.01 and 19:56.78.

The UMES men placed their final three scorers in the top 20. Maritim Shadrack finished eighth in 27:18.38. Solomon Kirongo was 11th, coming in with a time of 27:53.70 and Jerome Pyuzza was 20th in 29:07.03.

Other finishers for the men were Mamadou Diallo in 32:34.10, Paul Jones-Burden in

32:49.15 and Kenneth Greene in 34:27.88.

Non-scorers for the women were Betty Chumbe finishing in 20:50.83, Janeth Chelangat in 21:29.96, Jessica Abrantes in 21:43.57 and Tiffany Webb in 22:36.21.

UMES cross country is on the road next Saturday in Newark, Del., at the Delaware Invite.