BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Norfolk State junior Martha Bissah became just the second first-team NCAA Division I indoor All-American in the history of the Spartan women's track and field program Saturday, placing fifth in the finals of the 800 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Bissah posted a time of 2 minutes, 4.48 seconds in the final. Penn State's Danae Rivers (2:03.69) won the 800m national title, edging out Penn's Nia Akins by .05 seconds at the finish line.

Bissah ran with the leaders all race and tried to make her move on the final lap. But Rivers moved up from behind and overtook the entire lead pack to win the race.

Bissah has now won a pair of first-team All-America honors within the last year. She placed sixth in the 800 at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships in Oregon as a sophomore. Bissah, a five-time MEAC 800m champion, joins Debbie Dunn as the only indoor first-team female All-Americans in NSU's Division I annals. Dunn was the NCAA runner-up in the 200 meters at the 2000 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Bissah's strong showing this week capped a stellar indoor season for the Spartan track programs. The NSU women ranked 27th in the latest NCAA Track & Field Ratings Index entering the meet. Sprinters Kiara Grant (60 meters) and Trequan Barnes (400 meters) also competed this week in Birmingham, giving NSU three indoor national qualifiers for the first time ever at the Division I level. Grant and Barnes earned second-team All-American honors by advancing to Birmingham and placing 14th and 10th in their respective events.