The Norfolk State men’s and women’s cross country teams swept both first place spots at the Maryland-Eastern Shore Invitational on Saturday. The men’s team picked up where it left off last fall. The Spartan men, who won their third straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title in 2002, swept second through fifth places on Saturday. Thomas Hightower took second place for NSU, finishing the 5.1-mile course in 27:32.86. Joseph Terer was third overall, Cleophus Koros was fourth and Patrick Scott fifth. NSU finished with 23 points, well ahead of runner-up George Washington’s 65.

The Spartan women also won thanks to a balanced effort. All five of their runners who scored placed in the top 11, led by a third-place finish from junior-college transfer Linah Tallam. She ran the 3.1-mile course in 20:00.76. Denisha Hudson came in fourth for NSU, Agatha Gitundu sixth, Judy Tubei eighth and freshman Cassie Alston 11 th . The Spartan women finished with 32 points, well ahead of Salisbury State and UMES, who tied for second with 58 points each.

Both NSU teams participate in next Saturday’s Lou Onesty Invitational at the University of Virginia.