LEHIGH, Pa. – Norfolk State newcomer Raphael Kitur led the Spartans in their season-opener on Saturday, placing 42^nd in a field of nearly 400 athletes at the Paul Short Invitational.
 
Kitur completed the 8k course in 24 minutes, 40.8 seconds, setting a new personal best by one tenth of a second.
 
As a team, Norfolk State finished 24^th out of 43 teams in the event.
 
Gidion Sigei followed closely behind his teammate, taking 66^th in 24:50.4. After missing most of the 2022 season with injuries, Brian Rotich got his 2023 campaign off to a strong start, finishing 144^th in 25:20.7.
 
Evans Pololet (25:58.0) and Jelani Johnson (31:21.1) rounded out the Spartans' top five finishers.
 
NSU returns to action on Friday, Oct. 6 at the Cedric Walker HBCU XC Challenge in Cary, N.C.