LEESBURG, Va. – The Norfolk State men's cross country team got to shake the rust off after not being able to compete in almost two years due to COVID-19. The Spartans competed in the season-opening meet at the George Mason Invitational and represented the University well.

Five Spartans attacked the 8,000-meter race and were led by junior Meshack Kipchirchir, who finished sixth overall. He ran an average mile of five minutes, 37 seconds and finished the race in 27 minutes, 55 seconds.

Kipchirchir was followed by sophomore Evans Cheruiyot (10th) and sophomore Isa Suleiman (13th). Cheruiyot clocked a time of 27:35 and Suleiman finished in 29:33.
The next Spartan to lead the charge was junior Lelei Too, who placed 15th and finished the race in 30:06. Sophomore Je'Shawn Walker was right behind him finishing 16th with a time of 31:28.

The Norfolk State men's cross country team will be back in action Friday, when it races at the Virginia Invitational in Earlysville, Virginia.