EARLYSVILLE, Va. – The Norfolk State women's cross country team opened the 2014 season last Friday at the University of Virginia Duals at Panorama Farms.

NSU competed against Virginia, Duke, Florida State, James Madison and Liberty. All runners completed a 4,000-meter race, and the cumulative points for each team were compared against each one of the other four teams as if they were competing in dual meets against each of the other schools. Duke finished with a 5-0 record, Florida State was 4-1, U.Va. went 3-2, JMU 2-3, Liberty 1-4 and NSU 0-5.

The Spartans' top finisher was junior Adugna Desalegn, who completed the 4K course in 17 minutes, 8 seconds to place 44th. Junior Rachel Webb was 47th in 17:42. Senior Kassandra Irizarry was 51st in 20:55, while Jazmine Vaughan was 52nd overall and Tori Lewis-Johnson was 53rd.

The Spartans are back in action next Saturday at the UMES Lid-Lifter Invitational in Princess Anne, Md.