PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The Norfolk State men's cross country team opened its 2007 season by winning the Maryland Eastern Shore Lid-Lifter Invitational on Saturday morning. The Spartans tallied 29 points as each of their five runners finished in the top nine.

NSU finished ahead of second-place UMES (38 points), Delaware State (68) and University of the District of Columbia (96).

Junior Hillary Cheruiyot (Eldoret, Kenya) led the way for NSU with a second-place finish, completing the 8k course in 25:44.56. Sophomore Jonathan Soimo (Kapsabet, Kenya) was fourth overall in 26:11.71, and senior Dominic Luka (Marietta, N.Y.) was sixth in 26:48.69.

Rounding out NSU's top five were junior Keenan Harris (Norfolk, Va.), who finished eighth overall in 28:08.84, and sophomore Liam Arocho (Virginia Beach, Va.), who was ninth overall in 28:25.25.

The Spartan men are back in action next Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Lou Onesty Invitational at the University of Virginia.