EARLYSVILLE, Va. – The Norfolk State men's and women's cross country teams placed eighth at the University of Virginia Panorama Farms Invitational on Saturday in Earlysville, Va.

The men finished with 256 points behind Oklahoma (40), Arkansas (61), Virginia (66), Michigan (75), Duke (135), California (153), and Kentucky (200).  VCU (261) was ninth, followed by Howard (283).

Junior Kipchirchir Kiptoo led NSU in the 8k race placing 47th with a time of 25:58.80.  Fellow juniors Nathnael Meseret and Damtew Adnew finished 54th and 57th with a time of 26:15.10 and 26:20.60.  Senior Vincent Rono placed 65th in 26:47.00.

Freshman Desmond Fogg came in at 28:20.20, finishing 79th overall while senior Aaron Dudley finished 82nd with a time of 29:38.70.  Freshman Joshua Carino placed 86th with a time of 31:09.90.

The Spartan women finished with 198 points behind Wisconsin (35), Kentucky (47), Virginia (57), California (83), Liberty (136), VCU (186), and Howard (187).  Freshman Rachel Webb led the Spartans in the 5k race, finishing 36th overall with a time of 21:28.70.  Sophomore Kassandra Irizarry finished 39th in 21:52.70.

Sophomores Rashaun Combs (23:15.70), Tori Lewis-Johnson (23:48.50), Ariel Bartice-Smith (25:44.30), and junior Tyler Savage (27:09.00) placed 44th, 47th, 52nd, and 53rd overall.

The Spartans will return to action next weekend heading to Cary, N.C., for the Great American Cross Country Festival on September 29.