The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host its 2008 men’s and women’s cross country championships on Saturday, October 25 on the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland.

The Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks’ men’s and women’s team will attempt to become the first men’s and women’s programs since the 1992 Coppin State Eagles to defend their cross country titles during back-to-back years.

Senior Merrecia James led the way for the Lady Hawks at last year’s championship with a time of 18:27.  James has finished among the top five in each race that she has competed in this season and recorded the fourth fastest MEAC time in a 5K race this season with a time of 18:18 at the Maryland Eastern Shore Cappy Anderson Invite. Norfolk State’s Jennifer Chichester leads the MEAC on a 5K course with a time of 17:59 that she posted at the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawk Challenge.

On the men’s side, the Hawks won a close race last season defeating the Norfolk State Spartans by 10 points to capture their first title since the 1996 season. Sophomore Peter Sang, who was the top finisher for the Hawks a year ago, has paced UMES this season and won the individual title at the Hawk Invitational with a time of 25:24.77. 

The Spartans of Norfolk State, who won seven consecutive titles from 1999-2006, will attempt to reclaim the MEAC crown after finishing as runners-up a year ago. Norfolk State returned four athletes to this year’s team who finished among the top 15 during last year’s race.

The 2008 MEAC Cross Country Championships will begin with the women’s five-kilometer (5K) race at 9:45 a.m.; followed by the men’s eight-kilometer (8K) race at 10:30 a.m.  The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is located on One Backbone Road in Princess Anne, Maryland. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information on the 2008 MEAC Cross Country Championships and the latest on other MEAC sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACsports.com