VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. --- The Norfolk State track and field teams look to close out the indoor campaign with a strong performance at the MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, starting on Sunday Feb. 23 and ending on Monday, Feb. 24.  
 
The Event
The MEAC Championships take place at the Virginia Beach Sports Complex. Action both days begins at 8:30 a.m. 
 
The meet will feature all eight track institutions in the MEAC: Norfolk State, Coppin State, Delaware State, Howard, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State, North Carolina Central, and South Carolina State.
 
Fans can follow live results on Athletic Live. Tickets for the event can also be purchased here.
 
Outlook – Norfolk State Men
The NSU men's squad seeks a historic fourth consecutive indoor championship. A fourth consecutive title would mark the second longest streak of championship wins since Norfolk State won eight consecutive titles from 2006-2013.
 
Last season the Spartans cruised to the MEAC title, accumulating 178 points across the three-day event. NSU picked up four event wins that included Raphael Kitur in the 5,000 meters, Isaac Haywood in the triple jump, and Bond in the 400 meters.
 
The Spartans have produced a successful season so far, setting four school records this indoor season. Senior Brian Rotich broke the first record of the indoor season at the Sharon Volyear-Danville Opener in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:07.14. The 4x400 relay team consisting of Premier Wynn, Tafari Bishop, Kendrick Winfield, and Vincent Bond Jr. took down the relay record that had stood since 1999.
 
Last weekend at the Indoor Pre-Nationals, NSU broke two more marks with junior Troy McWilliams setting the new weight throw record (55-9.5) and freshman Jaymes Saunders setting the heptathlon record (4,921 points).
 
Saunders has also picked up a pair of MEAC weekly honors, earning Field Athlete of the Week once and Track Athlete of the Week once. Haywood also has one weekly MEAC honor, picking up a field athlete of the week accolade.
 
Norfolk State also secured one team win this season, taking first place with 126.5 points at the HBCU Showcase in New York, N.Y. on Jan. 18.
 
Outlook - Norfolk State Women's
The Norfolk State women's squad seeks its first indoor championship since the 2010 season. NSU earned a runner up finish in last year's meet, while Howard won its third consecutive Indoor Championship.
 
Senior Mercyline Kimaiyo looks to continue her streak as MEAC Outstanding Runner at the championships, having earned the honor the past two seasons.
 
Last season the Spartans picked up seven individual event wins at the conference championships. Kimaiyo led NSU by winning the 3,000 meters, mile, and 5,000 meters. Norfolk State also returns 800-meter champion Jahmei Wyatt and 60-meter hurdle champion Brooklyn Robinson.
 
Senior Leslie Young has led the Spartans in field events this season, receiving two MEAC Field Athlete of the Week honors throughout the indoor campaign for her performances in the shot put and weight throw.
 
Norfolk State also picked up a fifth place finish this season at the HBCU Showcase in New York, N.Y. on Jan 18th.
 
The Spartans saw several top performances last week at the Indoor Division I Pre-Nationals, including Robinson winning the 60-meter hurdles and Leanna Lewis taking first in the 800 meters. NSU also posted a pair of second place finishes from Allysia Farrar in the 200 meters and Wyatt in the 800 meters.
 
Academic Honors
On Friday, the MEAC announced its MEAC Indoor Track & Field All- Academic Teams, and NSU had 21 student-athletes represented: Christopher Basking, Tafari Bishop, Victor Jumo, Basil Koech, Troy McWilliams, Brian Rotich, Andwele Shurland, Kendrick Winfield, Camren Wynder-Hill, Premier Wynn, Kailie Borque, Abigael Chebet, Daena Dyer, Allysia Farrar, Lexa Hunter, Mercyline Kimaiyo, Sonia Koech, Brooklyn Robinson, Emani Thompson, Jahmei Wyatt, and Leslie Young.
 
MEAC sophomore, junior, and senior student-athletes with a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average, as well as transfer student-athletes who have been in residence at the institution for at least one year, are eligible for all-academic accolades.
 
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X/Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.