PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The Norfolk State men's cross country team won its fourth consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship and 11th in the last 12 years on Saturday morning on the campus of Maryland Eastern Shore. The Spartans amassed 30 points. Florida A&M was second with 54.

Hampton won the women's title with 53 points. The Spartan women placed fifth with 162 points.

The Spartan men were paced by senior Josef Tessema, who won his first title. He finished the 8-kilometer course in 25 minutes, 24.73 seconds to give NSU its third individual champion in the last four years. It was Tessema's fourth straight all-conference honor.

Tessema was one of the six Spartan men who placed in the top 13 to earn All-MEAC honors. First-year sophomore Nathnael Meseret was fifth overall in 26:22.49, finishing just ahead of junior Vincent Rono, who was sixth (26:25.75). Senior Amos Kipkosgei was eighth overall in 26:32.74, and fellow senior Philemon Kimutai was 10th in 26:48.55.

Rounding out the Spartans' All-MEAC finishers was sophomore Damtew Adnew, who was 13th in 27:07.19.

On the women's side, junior Kellen Rutto was the Spartans' only All-MEAC finisher. She placed ninth overall in 19:35.42 on the 5-kilometer course. It was her third straight all-conference honor.

Senior Jamia Hutto was 27th overall in 20:44.76, followed by freshman Kassandra Irizarry in 21:17.14. She finished 38th. Fellow freshman Ariel Bartice-Smith was NSU's next-highest finisher, placing 40th in 21:33.65. Rounding out NSU's top five was senior Syeeda Gee, who was 51st in 22:14.80.

The Spartan men will compete in the NCAA Southeast Region meet on Nov. 12 at the University of Louisville.