GREENSBORO, N.C. – Junior Jacob Milton and freshman Evans Cheruiyot won gold medals in the high jump and 10,000 meters, respectively, to help the Norfolk State men's track and field team get out to an early lead at the 2019 MEAC Outdoor Championships Thursday on the campus of North Carolina A&T.

Milton completed his third consecutive yearly sweep of the MEAC high jump titles by clearing 6 feet, 11.75 inches. He has won ever conference title in his specialty during his NSU career.

Fellow juniors Kequan Henley and Garth Warner also scored points for the Spartans in the high jump. Both cleared 6-6, with Henley tying for sixth place and Warner eighth based on number of misses.

NSU also had three runners score in the 10,000, and the trio swept the three places on the podium. Cheruiyot won his first career MEAC individual title by crossing the line in 31 minutes, 19.23 seconds. Fellow newcomer Meshack Kipchirchir was close behind in 31:28.24, and senior Anteneh Girma claimed the bronze medal in 32:17.33.

The Spartans have 37.5 points in the team standings through Thursday's three events. Bethune-Cookman is second with 34 and North Carolina A&T is third with 14.

Another highlight for NSU on Thursday came from junior Jaylen Banks in the 400-meter hurdles. Banks won his heat and clocked a personal-best of 51.08 seconds to qualify for Saturday's final. The time was the fastest in Thursday's heats and should move Banks into the top 10 in the NCAA East Region.

Day two of the championships gets underway at 9 a.m. Friday.