2023 NCAA Southeast Regional Cross Country Championships Results
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) was well represented at the 2023 NCAA Southeast Regional Cross Country Championships Friday in Spartanburg, S.C. Representatives from Norfolk State and North Carolina Central competed for a chance to advance to nationals.
The 2023 MEAC Cross Country Champions, Norfolk State, sent both of their full men’s and women’s teams as the automatic qualifier out of the MEAC.
The Spartans women’s team finished 28th in the field of 35 teams. Junior Mercyline Kimayio led the charge finishing 76th in a time of 21:22.7 claiming 74 team points for NSU.
N.C. Central’s Rachel Ozio was the 118th runner to cross the finish line on the women’s side completing the race in 21 minutes, 58.1 seconds. The time was Ozio’s personal best time in a 6K race.
The next highest finisher for Norfolk State was senior Kara Grant, completing the race in 22:55.8. The time was Grant’s best result in a six-kilometer race as she claimed 157 team points.
Rounding out the top-three for Norfolk State was Ludjenie Mondesir who crossed the line 173rd to claim 166 team points. Mondesir ran a time of 23:03.0 marking a personal best for the junior Spartan.
Jahmei Wyatt (189th/182 pts) ran a time of 23 minutes, 18.6 seconds as the fourth highest Spartan finisher. Dorcas Kosgei (203/196 pts) and Leanna Lewis (235rd /222 pts) wrapped up the MEAC representation on the women’s side of the race finishing in 23:58.2 and 25:29.0 respectively.
In the men’s race, the Norfolk State Spartans capped off a fantastic season with a 16th place team finish out of 32 teams. Junior Spartan Gidion Sigei led NSU with a terrific race, completing the 10-kilometer course in 29 minutes, 47.6 seconds to finish 28th out of a field of over 230 runners. The time was Sigei’s best in a 10-K race.
Teammate Raphael Kitur placed 45th running a time of 30 minutes 13.3 seconds, another personal best time for a Spartan runner. Brian Rotich was not far behind crossing the line 57th in 30:23.8 minutes setting a PR in the event.
Victor Jumo (135th / 131 pts) ran a 32:00.7 time, while Evans Pololet (143rd / 139 pts) ran the race in 32 minutes 12.4 seconds as the final two competitors from NSU.
N.C. Central’s Emmanuel Paddyfote (201st) ran a time of 34:06.6 to round out the MEAC competitiors at the NCAA Regional Championships.