Courtesy of Norfolk State Athletic Communications
NORFOLK, Va. – After nearly a year off from competition, the Norfolk State men's and women's track & field teams are slated to return to action this weekend. The indoor portion of their 2021 schedule begins with the Gamecock Opener hosted by the University of South Carolina this Saturday.
It's been a long wait for the Spartans, who saw last outdoor season and the fall cross country season canceled due to COVID-19.
The Spartans were last in action in February of last year. Both the men's and women's programs notched runner-up finishes at the 2020 MEAC Indoor Championships on the heels of sweeping the two cross country titles earlier that fall. Two runners, sprinter Kiara Grant and middle-distance standout Martha Bissah, qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships, only to see those events canceled on the eve of the meet due to the pandemic.
"We were coming off a lot of momentum last indoor season heading into outdoor before it was canceled," Director of Track & Field Kenneth Giles said. "Our student-athletes don't know what they'll miss until it's taken away from them. But I will say they are in a great mindset and are ready to go this weekend."
Suffice it to say, the Spartans are eager to make up for lost time. And both teams have plenty of firepower returning to take aim at conference supremacy and national accolades.
On the men's side, the Spartans are deep in the sprints and distance events once again. The core of last year's MEAC cross country championship team returns, led by Meshack Kipchirchir, Evans Cheruiyot and Lelei Too. They will be joined by Hofstra transfer Isa Suleiman to give the Spartans outstanding depth in the longer races. Junior Kamil Jihad heads up the middle-distance roster, coming off a silver medal in the 800 meters at last year's MEAC indoor meet.
The sprinters will showcase similar depth. MEAC 200-meter bronze medalist Kai Cole and 2019 NCAA Indoor 400-meter All-American Trequan Barnes head up an impressive array of athletes in the sprints. Transfer Anthony Franklin, last year's NAIA indoor national runner-up in the 200 meters, and freshman Bryan-Madison Ahouman are new names to watch out for in the sprints.
Azad Williams, the 2020 MEAC indoor shot put champion, and freshman jumpers Nile Walker, Isaac Haywood and Camren Wynder-Hill spearhead a young, but talented group of field athletes.
On the women's side, Grant and fellow senior Malika Pride will anchor the team during indoor season, while Bissah will rejoin the team for outdoor season. Grant is a four-time All-American who qualified for the indoor nationals in both the 60 and 200 meters last year. Pride was enjoying a breakthrough 2019-20 season, breaking the school 400m record before claiming the silver medal at the MEAC Indoor Championships, before the season was halted.
DaJah Parker-Love and freshmen Armani Harris, Allysia Farrar and Alicia Thomas will team with Grant and Pride to give the Spartans a formidable corps of sprinters. In the middle distances, the Spartans return last year's MEAC 800-meter runner-up in Kara Grant. Fridah Koech, the conference 5,000-meter runner-up, and newcomer Faith Jemutai give the Spartans a pair of threats in the distance events.
Jumper Tynniesia Wilson returns after a promising freshman campaign and remains a high jumper to watch in the conference. Arieana Parker, who broke the school weight throw record last year, leads an experience group of throwers that includes Tiara Simms, Ameya Williams and Akiera Sessoms.
"One thing we have is depth in our programs, which you need to compete for championships," Giles said. "We have a lot of great athletes back and are excited about the newcomers we have, who should contribute immediately."
South Carolina is the first of five indoor meets currently on NSU's schedule. The Spartans are scheduled to compete at VMI on Jan. 23. In February, the slate includes a competition at Liberty sandwiched by two meets at the new Virginia Beach Sports Center – one hosted by Virginia on Feb. 1, and NSU's own Kenneth Giles NSU Invitational on Feb. 12-13.
Giles is hoping to add another competition later in the season in preparation for the NCAA Indoor Championship in Arkansas in March.