LANDOVER, Md. – The Norfolk State men's track team got off to a fast start on Friday in its quest to win its fifth consecutive MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championship. The Spartans lead the competition with 69 points after the first day of action at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex.

NSU won three of the six events contested on Friday and scored in five of the six. Senior Brett Dodd (San Antonio, Texas) set a new school record in clearing 15 feet, 7 inches to win the pole vault. It was Dodd's second indoor MEAC title in the last three years. Freshman Raoul Hernandez (Virginia Beach, Va.) placed third (11-11.75) and junior Ryan Owens (Virginia Beach, Va.) finished fourth (11-5.75).

NSU continued its dominance in the distance events, winning the distance medley relay and finishing 1-2-5 in the 5,000 meters. Sophomores Amos Kipkosgei (Eldoret, Kenya) and Philemon Kimutai (Eldoret, Kenya) were first and second, respectively, in the 5,000. Junior Josef Tessema (Springfield, Va.) placed fifth.

Kimutai (1,200-meter leg) and Tessema (mile leg) also formed half of the winning DMR team. Freshman Vincent Brown (Peachtree City, Ga.) and Tyrell Moon (Philadelphia, Pa.) formed the other half, with Brown running the 800 and Moon the 400.

Brown capped his productive first MEAC indoor meet with a fourth-place finish in the 800 meters (1:55.63).

In the other field event contested Friday, sophomore Jamal Craig (Portsmouth, Va.) finished third in the weight throw (46-4.75) and junior Kendrick Richardson (Richmond, Va.) was fourth (41-2.5) for a total of 11 more NSU points.

Spartans sprinters also fared well in Friday's preliminary heats. Spartan runners combine to hold six spots in Saturday's finals in the 60, 200 and 400 meters. Junior Aramis Massenburg (Ettrick, Va.) also advanced to Saturday's final in the 60-meter hurdles, which he won last year.

Competition resumes at 9 a.m. on Saturday with the women's pole vault and pentathlon events.