UMES’ Rmidi Kinini secures top ten finish at Princeton Invitational
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. — It is well established that Hawks junior runner Khalil Rmidi Kinini can compete in the MEAC, but Saturday’s morning race at Princeton University gave him and the rest of the Hawks a chance to face competition that is perhaps a bit stiffer than accustomed to.
While his teammates did fine, Rmidi Kinini did more than hold his own, with a sixth place finish and an outstanding time of 24:09.2 in the 8k event.
That mark was good enough for the second best time for a UMES’ men’s athlete in an 8k cross country race. Alfred Singoei ran a 23:45 at the MEAC Championships in 2006.
Overall, the men’s team took 14th at the event. The next finisher for the Hawks was freshman Jordan Leon who earned a time of 25:50.1. Sophomores Stanley Meli and Donovan Mundy, along with senior Mark Tuwie, rounded out the top five with UMES.
On the women’s side, junior Jennaya Hield was the top runner in the Hawks’ first 6k race of the season. She finished with a time of 23:16.9, leading her team. Freshman Yaminah Smith was second on the squad, ten ticks behind Hield at 23:26.2. Junior Rachel Halmon took third, followed by sophomore Dypna Umunakwe and senior Jheniel Kelly.
The event marks the final regular season matchup for the team. Next up will be the MEAC Championship on October 31st in Smyrna, Delaware.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
Coppin State men second, women sixth at DSU Pre-Conference Invitational
SMRYNA, Del. - The Coppin State men's and women's cross-country teams concluded its regular season with a strong showing at the Delaware State Pre-Conference Invitational Saturday morning at its Farm Run Center.
The CSU men finished second overall thanks to four top 10 finishes. The women had a pair of top 15 efforts as they finished sixth as a team. North Carolina A&T won both races.
Leading the men for the second straight meet was junior Ronaldo Ball, who completed the eight-kilometer course in fifth place in a time of 27 minutes, 26.9 seconds. Alaric Coker was sixth (27:27.3), Mark London was eighth (28:03.7) and Michael James was 10th for the Eagles (28.24.5). Senior Fabian Hayles also finished 13th overall (29:35.7).
On the women's side, the usual duo of Kadeem Curtis and Lunnise Gibson led the way. Curtis was ninth overall for the second consecutive week. She finished the five-kilometer course in 21:18.8. Gibson was 12th overall (21:44.4). Curtis and Gibson have led the Lady Eagles this season as they have four top 20 finishes each during the season.
Coppin State will rest, prepare and focus on the 2015 MEAC Championship meet, which will be held on Halloween at Delaware State.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com
Brown shines at CNU Invitational
YORKTOWN, Va. – Ce’aira Brown’s strong cross country campaign continued Saturday morning in the Christopher Newport University Invitational, where she turned in the best time among Div. I female runners at Lee Hall Mansion.
Brown’s 22:17.00 over the 6K course was tops in the Div. I standings – and was the second-fastest time overall. Her time helped the Lady Pirates finish third in the Div. I women’s team standings.
Kaylor Murray was also in the top 15 among Div. I runners, finishing 13th with a time of 24:15.00. Kayla Key was 15th after turning in a 24:21.00, while Pollyanne Velasco ran a 24:46.00 to come in 16th. Amanda Delacruz was 17th with a 24:50.00.
Ashley Modeste ran a 26:23.00 to finish 22nd, and Kanitra Hatton was 23rd with a 27:07.00.
William & Mary won the women’s Division I team title with 28 points.
On the men’s side, Stanley Davis again paced the Pirates. He turned in a personal-best 27:15.00 on the 8K course, finishing 15th in the men’s Div. I individual standings. Quentin Morales-Perryman also finished in the top 20, turning in a 28:27.00 to finish 19th.
Christopher Roundtree was 21st with a 29:12.00, while Eric Ellis ran a 29:19.00 to finish 22nd.
Rayon Black finished 23rd after turning in a 30:06.00, and Joshua Oxley was 24th with a 31:15.00.
William & Mary won the men’s team title with 20 points. Trevor Sleight had the top Division I time at 25:10.00.
The Pirates and Lady Pirates will compete in the 2015 MEAC Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31.
For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com
Webb finishes 11th at CNU Invitational
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Rachel Webb finished in 11th place to pace the Norfolk State women's cross country team on Saturday at the Christopher Newport Invitational.
The Spartans placed fourth out of the four Division I teams competing at the meet. William & Mary won the women's race with 28 points, following by VCU with 40, Hampton with 62 and NSU with 107.
Webb finished the 6,000-meter course in 24 minutes, 2 seconds. Fawzia Kheir was the next-highest NSU finisher, placing 21st in a time of 25:50. The pair has finished 1-2 in some order in all of the Spartans' meets this season.
Freshman Jermyriah Jones was the Spartans' third finisher, placing 24th (28:12). She was followed by Jazmine Vaughan in 25th (29:09) and Charity Wilson in 26th (30:23).
The Spartans have next week off before competing at the MEAC Cross Country Championship on Oct. 31 in Smyrna, Del.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Delaware State Men, Women place fifth in DSU Pre-Conference Run Invitational
DOVER, Del. – The Delaware State cross country program hosted the DSU Pre-Conference Run Invitational on Saturday for their third home meet of the season, where both the men and women placed fifth with 109 points each.
North Carolina A&T State (26) took home first for the men, followed by Coppin State (40), Morgan State (72), Howard (96) and Delaware State (109).
Thirty-one men competed in the 8k run, and North Carolina A&T State had the top three finishers: Darren White (26:15.30), Hakeem Mustafaa (26:35.70) and Perry Cabean (26:52.00).
For the Hornets, their top two runners were freshmen newcomers Seth Danjoint (21st – 32:26.90) and Andrew Chambers (23rd – 33:49.70).
Rounding out the men for Delaware State was Charles Wulff Cochane (24th – 34:16.10), Emanuel Hitch (25th – 35:09.30), Vaeshon DeShields (26th – 35:09.70), Klyair Lambert (28th – 36:26.50) and Julius Allen (31st – 40:09.30).
North Carolina A&T State (41) also finished first in the women’s race, followed by Morgan State (63), Howard (75), Wesley (88), Delaware State (109), Coppin State (139) and District of Columbia (164).
Fifty-one women competed in the 5k run, which was bested by North Carolina A&T’s Estela Smith (1) – the school also had three more runners in the top 10.
Ashley Robinson (16th – 22:27.30) had the best finish of all women runners for the Hornets, and she was just ahead of both Erin Cooper (20th – 23:00.40) and Omealla Gordon (21st – 23:06.40).
The Hornets will now get ready to host the MEAC Championships next Saturday.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com