EARLYSVILLE, Va. – Norfolk State sophomore Mercyline Kimaiyo paced the NSU women's cross country team for the fourth straight meet, clocking a 5K time of 18:05.2 as the Spartans competed at the Panorama Farms XC23 Invitational on Saturday hosted by the University of Virginia.

Kimaiyo's time is the fastest in the MEAC this season, bettering her own season-best by nearly 40 seconds. In a deep field featuring runners from the ACC, Big 12 and SEC, Kimaiyo placed 72nd out of 171 runners.

Senior Kara Grant was the next-highest Spartan finisher. She crossed the line in 19:06.9, which should also rank as one of the five-fastest 5K times in the MEAC this year based on times entering the weekend. Tynniesia Wilson was third among the Spartans with a personal-best time of 19:19.1.

Emani Thompson (21:25.9) and Faith Jemutai (21:49.1) rounded out NSU's top five.

The Spartans are off this weekend before they compete at the 2022 MEAC Cross Country Championship on Oct. 29 in Smyrna, Delaware. NSU is the two-time defending champion.