2008 MEAC Men's Cross County Championship Results 

 

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore women’s team and Norfolk State men’s team captured the 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship titles Saturday morning at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md.

 

The Lady Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore won its second straight title and third overall. Tamica Thomas paced UMES with a time of 18:39.70, while three other Lady Hawks completed the race among the top 15 finishers.

Coppin State’s Naomi Tanui won the individual title and earned Outstanding Performer accolades. Tanui set a course record with a time of 17:35.35 topping the previous mark of 17:59.10 held by Norfolk State’s Jennifer Chichester.

 

“I was happy to run well, even though I knew I was winning, I had no idea that I was setting a course record, said Tanui.” 

 

Maryland Eastern Shore head coach Ernest Barrett won Outstanding Coach accolades for the second consecutive year.

 

“It was a total team effort, explained Barrett.” “My team started off slow but picked it up toward the end of the season. It was great to see a strong team performance.” “I have to give Norfolk State credit because they ran a great race and it was great competition.”

 

In team results, Norfolk State was second (73), followed by Hampton (108), Howard (120) and Coppin State (123).

 

In men’s action, the Norfolk State Spartans won their eighth overall crown in nine years. Dominic Luka, the 2007 MEAC Outstanding Performer, paced the men’s team again this year and won the individual title with a time of 25:27.11 to earn Outstanding Performer accolades for the second straight year.

 

“My team took off together and everyone did very well, said Luka” “Throughout the season we have worked together and today it showed.”

 

Norfolk State’s Kenneth Giles earned Outstanding Coach honors for the eighth time in his career.  

 

“When we finished second at last year’s championships, it hurt us, therefore we worked hard and trained hard and this championship was a fitting way to send our three seniors out, said Giles.”

 

Second place accolades went to Maryland Eastern Shore (82), Delaware State was third (98) followed by Howard (107) and Florida A&M (117).