Final Results

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A 1-2-3 sweep of the 60 meter dash and a school record in the 3,000 meters highlighted an impressive season-opening meet for the Norfolk State men's track team on Sunday at the Christopher Newport Holiday Open at the Freeman Center.

Sean Holston, James Taylor and Ramaan Ansley all ran personal-best times in taking the top three places in the 60 meters. Holston won it in 6.74 seconds, while Taylor, making his collegiate debut, was second in 6.76. Ansley, a sophomore, ran a solid 6.81 to finish third.

Not to be outdone, junior Josef Tessema set a school record in the 3,000 meters. He placed second overall in 8 minutes, 27.76 seconds, roughly a quarter of a second behind winner Liam Anastasia-Murphy of William & Mary. Spartan junior Philemon Kimutai placed fourth in the event in a PR of 8:34.65.

Purdue transfer Rashad Cannon also had a successful first meet at NSU, placing second in the long jump (24 feet, 4.5 inches). Taylor was fourth in 23-9.5, but did not jump in the finals.

Junior Amos Kipkosgei (third in the 5,000), senior Aramis Massenburg (fourth in the 60 meter hurdles) and sophomore Keith Nkrumah (fifth in the 60 hurdles) also posted top-five finishes for the Spartans.

The Spartans capped off the evening with a victory in the 4x400 meter relay. The team of Holston, Nkrumah, Taylor and Kenneth Smith clocked at time of 3:18.41.

The Spartans are off for the holiday break before returning to the track at the George Mason Father Diamond Invitational on Jan. 8.