NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's track and field team celebrated a conference title on its home turf for the second consecutive year on Thursday evening, winning the 2023 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Dick Price Stadium with a thrilling final day.
 
The Spartans finished with 188.50 points, 12 more than second-place Howard. For the second straight year, Norfolk State swept the MEAC cross country, indoor, and outdoor titles.
 
Regan Kimtai was named Outstanding Track Athlete, contributing 34 points to the Spartans' total for the week. Kenneth Giles earned Outstanding Coach honors for the second straight year.
 
Kimtai won two events on Thursday, boosting NSU to its 11^th all-time outdoor title. He took first in the 1500 meters with a time of 3:52.73, before coming-from-behind for a thrilling 800 meter victory (1:51.32).
 
Kai Cole also put together a two-win Thursday, dominating the sprints. He posted a 10.29 in the 100 meter dash for the first triumph, before winning the 200 meter dash in 20.58 seconds.
 
Anthony Franklin picked up crucial points for the Spartans in both events as well, taking sixth in the 100 meter dash (10.59) and fifth in the 200 meter dash (21.19).
 
The Spartans clinched the championship with a clutch showing in the 5,000 meters, sweeping the podium. Gidion Sigei won the event with a time of 15 minutes, 13.33 seconds, followed by Victor Jumo (15:21.64) and Brian Rotich (15:24.21). Kimtai finished fifth (15:58.24).
 
NSU also swept the podium in the 1500 meters, led by Kimtai's victory. Jumo (3:53.47) and Sigei (3:55.03) notched personal records to finish second and third, respectively.
 
Isaac Haywood got the Spartans going in the morning, taking second in the triple jump with a mark of 47 feet, 11.75 inches.
 
Kalon Jeffery took third in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 12 feet, 0.5 inches.
 
Norfolk State's 4x100 relay team of Kai Cole, Anthony Franklin, Bryan-Madison Ahouman, and Dwight Henry ran their best time of the season on Thursday, finishing fourth in 40.54 seconds.
 
The 4x400 relay team of Dazon Harrison, Jeremiah Zellander, Devin Mosley and Knasir Alston took fifth in the 3:15.63, their best performance of the season. It beat the team's previous top mark from the Raleigh Relays by 0.11 seconds.