Courtesy of Norfolk State Athletic Communications


NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University Director of Track & Field Kenneth Giles announced Friday that Spartan distance coach Donald Bond has been elevated to associate head cross country coach.

Bond, who has spent nine years with the Spartans in two different stints, also coaches the distance runners for the NSU track and field team. Bond was instrumental in helping the Norfolk State men extended their own MEAC record by winning their 12th and 13th cross country championships in 2017 and 2019, respectively.

The Spartan women made it a Norfolk State sweep in 2019, as they, too, also won the MEAC cross country championship. Meshack Kipchirchir and Martha Bissah swept the conference cross country individual titles in leading the Spartans to the two team crowns.

Previously, Bond has coached at both Hampton and St. Augustine's universities and at local high schools Woodrow Wilson (now Manor High), Lake Taylor and Booker T. Washington. He was an All-CIAA runner at St. Augustine's.

"Coach Bond comes from a championship pedigree at the collegiate level after coaching under the legendary George Williams at St. Augustine's and at Hampton University," Giles said. "He has played an integral role in our recent championships for both the men's and women's programs, and he is up to the challenge of taking our programs to new heights."

Norfolk State returns three All-MEAC performers on both the men's and women's teams heading into 2021, including the return of both Kipchirchir and Bissah.