CARY, N.C. – Sophomore Kellen Rutto (Eldoret, Kenya) paced the Norfolk State women's cross country team again on Saturday, finishing in second place overall to help the Spartans take home third place in the HBCU Challenge of the Great American Cross Country Festival.

Rutto finished the 5K (3.1-mile) course in 19 minutes, 5.8 seconds. Senior Jennifer Chichester (Silver Spring, Md.) was next for NSU, finishing sixth in a time of 19:40.8.

Juniors Jamia Hutto (Orlando, Fla.) and Syeeda Gee (Philadelphia, Pa.) finished 15th and 26th overall. Hutto finished in 20:38.9, and Gee in 21:20.

Freshman Lillian Morales-Gonzalez (San Antonio, Texas) rounded out the Spartans' top five. She placed 31st overall in 21:41.5.

The Spartans are off next weekend. Their next meet is on Oct. 16 at the Tribe Open hosted by William & Mary.

Top 5 Women's Teams – HBCU Challenge
1. Hampton   41
2. S.C. State   66
3. Norfolk State 80
4. Virginia State 114
5. Winston-Salem St. 142