LANDOVER, Md. – The Norfolk State men's track and field team got off to a strong start at the 2019 MEAC Indoor Championships Thursday and is tied for first place after two completed events at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex.

The Spartans and Bethune-Cookman both have 23 points after Thursday's first day of competition.

The NSU men started well by having all four of their entered runners score points in the 5,000 meters. Freshman Evans Cheruiyot placed second, taking the silver medal in 15 minutes, 5.76 seconds. Fellow freshman Meshack Kipchirchir was fourth (15:14.39), sophomore Lelei Too fifth (15:14.78), and junior Festus Bett eighth (15:45.80).

Spartan junior Bobby Price capped the abbreviated first-day schedule with a fourth-place finish in the long jump. The All-MEAC safety in football, who had not jumped competitively since high school prior to last week's JDL Invitational in North Carolina, had a best leap of 23 feet, 8 inches in his first-ever MEAC track meet. That represents a personal best for Price.

Junior Jaylen Banks is second after four of seven events in the two-day heptathlon event, with a total of 2,588 points. The heptathlon will conclude Friday. 

Also on Thursday, sophomore Trequan Barnes advanced in the heats of the 200-meter dash. He clocked a time of 21.83 seconds, the third-fastest qualifying time in the 200. The event final will be contested on Saturday.

Competition resumes at 9 a.m. Friday.