2026 MEAC Cross Country Men’s and Women’s Championships Set for Friday

Men's Cross Country | 10/29/2026 2:47:49 PM

NORFOLK, Va. – Following a regular season highlighted by standout individual performances and strong team showings, MEAC men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete for conference titles at the 2026 MEAC Cross Country Championship on Friday, Oct. 30, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.

The championship will stream live on the MEAC Network, with the men’s 8K race scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., followed by the women’s 5K at noon.

Need to Know
  • Date: Friday, Oct. 30
  • Location: WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, N.C.
  • Men’s 8K: 11 a.m.
  • Women’s 5K: Noon
  • Watch: MEAC Network
On the men’s side, Norfolk State will look to capture its seventh MEAC title, having won the championship in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Individually, Norfolk State’s Clinton Kipruto and North Carolina Central’s Aaron Alukunyang have dominated the conference’s weekly awards, combining for all six MEAC Men’s Cross Country weekly honors this season.

On the women’s side, Howard will look to capture back-to-back MEAC titles for the first time since winning consecutive championships in 2002 and 2003. Individually, several runners have delivered strong performances this season, including Howard’s Alexis Jones, who recorded the conference’s fastest 5K time of the season at 18:42.3 at the Virginia Invitational.

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters its 56th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2026–27 academic year. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, the MEAC is comprised of eight distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along the Atlantic seaboard: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State University. Since its founding in 1970, the MEAC has been dedicated to promoting academic excellence, sportsmanship, and the personal growth of student athletes. For more information, visit www.MEACSports.com.