CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Evans Cheruiyot led a sweep of the top three places in the 5,000 meters to pace the Spartan men's track and field team at the Charlotte Invitational.

On a rain-soaked Irwin Belk Track, Cheruiyot clocked a time of 15 minutes, 1.76 seconds for his second event victory of outdoor season. He also won the 3,000 meters at the Fred Hardy Invitational.

Meshack Kipchirchir was close behind Cheruiyot, taking second in the 5,000 in 15:03.05. Anteneh Girma made it a 1-2-3 sweep for the Spartans, finishing third in 15:27.74.

NSU's other event win over the weekend came via the 4x400 meter relay team. The grouping of Jaylen Banks, Trequan Barnes, Keith Brown and Justin Pinder clocked a time of 3:15.75 to edge out Wake Forest.

Brown, Barnes, Byron Carson and Joseph Kemp also teamed to finish second in the 4x100 meter relay in 41.66 seconds.

Other high finishes were turned in by Banks in the 110-mter hurdles (fourth place, PR of 14.45 seconds) and Barnes in the 200 (second, 21.80). Lelei Too ran the MEAC's second-fastest 1,500 meter time (PR, 3:56.91) and Festus Bett did likewise in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:57.35).

The Spartans will send a small contingent to the CNU Captains Classic in Newport News next weekend.