NORFOLK, Va. – Coming off an emphatic sweep of the MEAC track and field titles last year, winning both the indoor and outdoor championships, the Norfolk State men's track and field team has a target on its back. But the Spartans recognize that, and it doesn't scare them in the slightest.
 
"The spotlight is on us," head coach Kenneth Giles said. "We've put together an outstanding roster and I think the mindset is for us to go in there and compete at another level."
 
NSU's bountiful lineup starts with a continued excellence in long-distance events, coming off another dominant cross country season in the fall. The Spartans earned their third consecutive MEAC cross country title in October, as sophomore sensation Gidion Sigei took the top individual slot with an 8k time of 24 minutes and 38.8 seconds, finishing 54 seconds ahead of teammate and runner-up Regan Kimtai.
 
Evans Charuiyot, last year's MEAC champ, took third place with a final time of 25:41.1. Together, the trio leads the long-distance squad into the indoor track season with high expectations.
 
That's not to say the team lacks talent as the distance gets shorter. The Spartans return a top-notch group of sprinters, guided by upperclassmen Kai Cole and Anthony Franklin. Cole took first place at the MEAC Indoor Championships in the 60 and 200 meters, while him and Franklin led the winning 4x100 relay team at the MEAC Outdoor Championships.
 
The Spartans return all four members of that relay group, with Savien Hayes and Bryan Madison-Ahouman entering their junior years. Giles believes Madison-Ahouman, in particular, could potentially make the biggest leap this season.
 
"I think Bryan is going to do an outstanding job," he said. "He finished up strong last year during the outdoor season."
 
Headlining the returning field athletes, Josh Peterson hopes to build off last year's hugely successful season of long jump. The reigning MEAC champion in the event, Peterson and teammate Isaac Haywood should rack up points in bunches for the Spartans this year.
 
Two local talents, Jahquan Christopher and Camren Wynder-Hill give the team depth at multis and jumps. The pair of Norfolk, Va. products finished first and second in the heptathlon during the MEAC Indoor Championships, with Wynder-Hill breaking Christopher's previously-set school record for points.
 
The Spartans welcome 12 newcomers to the squad this year, eager to make an impact on their new squad. Brian Rotich (middle distance) and Dwight Henry (hurdles) will provide versatility to the stacked group of runners, while William Richardson (throws) and Jonathan Richardson (hurdles, jumps), of no relation, possess innate athletic ability.
 
"Dwight Henry was an outstanding high school runner, a transfer from Essex County College, so we have big expectations for him," Giles said. "We expect William Richardson to compete for a conference championship in the weight throw and the hammer throw during the indoor and outdoor season."
 
While a few long-distance runners opened the indoor season on Saturday in Boston, Mass. The rest of the team will make their 2022-23 debut on Sunday, Jan. 8 at the VCU Indoor Invitational.