NORFOLK, Va. – Not many cross country programs can graduate a pair of conference champions and feel like they won't take a step back the following year.

But the Norfolk State cross country program is not like most programs.

The Spartan men and women's cross country teams, both of which have won the last two MEAC titles, get the 2022 season underway on Saturday at the University of Richmond Spider Alumni Open. And though some of the faces have changed, the expectations for excellence have not.

The Spartan men may have lost 2019 MEAC cross country champion Meshack Kipchirchir to graduation, but they do welcome back Evans Cheruiyot. Cheruiyot had a memorable 2021-22 school year, winning the 2021 MEAC cross country individual title before sweeping the steeplechase, 5,000 and 10,000 meter races at the 2022 conference outdoor meet.

While Kipchirchir placed second at last year's conference cross country meet behind Cheruiyot, junior Isa Suleiman was not far behind in third as the Spartans swept the top three places.

Former North Carolina A&T standout Regan Kimtai joined the Spartans during the spring track season and will debut for the Spartan cross country team this fall. He was a two-time All-MEAC cross country performer at N.C. A&T.

Head coach Kenneth Giles is bullish on his two men's newcomers. Sophomore Gidion Sigei, a transfer from Division II Lincoln Memorial, registered an 8K PR of 23:41 last year as a freshman. Sophomore Brian Rotich was a junior college All-American at Trinidad State last year, placing seventh at the national meet in a time of 24:25 for 8K.

Like their male counterparts, the NSU women's program had some notable losses from last year's team, but also welcome back three key performers from that title-winning team in addition to three impact newcomers. Gone are three-time MEAC champion Martha Bissah, who was fifth at least year's MEAC championship meet, and third-place finisher Fridah Koech. But All-MEAC performers Kara Grant and Tynniesia Wilson are both back, as is Faith Jemutai, who has earned All-MEAC honors on the track for the Spartans.

The Spartans brought in three newcomers to bolster the roster. Mercyline Kimaiyo was her conference's and the NCAA D-II East Region runner-up last year as a freshman at American International University. She qualified for the D-II national championship race in cross country and was conference outdoor track champion for 5K and 10K.

Dorcas Kosgei, a transfer from Eastern New Mexico University, was an all-conference cross country performer who has two years of eligibility remaining.

NSU also welcomes in Emani Thompson, who was Virginia 6A state champion in the 800 meters as a high school senior last year to round out NSU's six-athlete roster.

In addition to the opener at Richmond this week, the Spartans also compete twice at U.Va. (Sept. 16 and Oct. 15) in addition to the always-competitive Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh on Sept. 30.

The 20222 MEAC Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Delaware State on Oct. 29 in Smyrna, Delaware.