NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk State brings the MEAC's fastest 6K runner of the season to the conference championships Friday, as freshman Veronica Jesang leads the Spartan women into the 2026 MEAC Cross Country Championships at the WakeMed Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C. The women's 5K is set for noon, following the men's 8K at 11 a.m.
Norfolk State has won four of the last six conference championships and is looking to take the title back after finishing second to Howard a year ago.
MEET INFORMATION
- Meet: 2026 MEAC Cross Country Championships (host: North Carolina Central)
- Date: Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
- Site: WakeMed Soccer Complex — Cary, N.C.
- Race: Women's 5K, 12 p.m. (men's 8K at 11 a.m.)
- Live Video: watch.meacsports.com
- Live Results: blueridgetiming.live
VERONICA JESANG
Jesang owns the fastest 6,000-meter time in the MEAC this season, a personal-best 22:23.5 set Sept. 18 at the CNU Invitational, where she paced Norfolk State to a third-place finish. Her mark is 19.7 seconds clear of the next-fastest runner in the conference.
She was also the Spartans' top finisher at the Panorama Farms Invitational on Oct. 16, cracking the top 50 in the regular-season finale.
MEAC PERFORMANCE LIST — 6,000 METERS
Norfolk State places four runners among the conference's top 12 at the distance.
Defending champion Howard remains the team to beat, with five runners inside the conference's top nine.
THE SEASON
| Date |
Meet |
Result |
| Sept. 5 |
Spider Alumni Open |
12th of 16 (341 pts) |
| Sept. 18 |
CNU Invitational |
3rd of 8 (77 pts) |
| Oct. 2 |
Paul Short Invitational |
No team score |
| Oct. 16 |
Panorama Farms Invitational |
No team score |
The CNU Invitational was the high point of the fall. Jesang won the race for Norfolk State and Chebet (23:47.6) and Dailey (24:30.2) followed as the Spartans took third in an eight-team field with 77 points.
QUOTING DIRECTOR OF TRACK & FIELD KENNETH GILES
"With the lack of depth on the women's team we need our top five runners to be at their best, and I expect them to do so," said director of track and field programs Kenneth Giles.
"Veronica Jesang will provide the leadership on the course, just as Clinton does on the men's side, while All-MEAC runner Amira Dailey will get them together mentally."
Giles was named Cross Country Coach of the Year by HBCU Sports in July.
WHAT TO WATCH
Friday is the first 5,000-meter race Norfolk State has run this season. The Spartans opened at 4K and raced 6K in each of their last three meets, so the championship distance is new ground for a lineup that has leaned on a small group all fall.
With five scorers and little margin behind them, Norfolk State needs its full complement to finish. Getting the pack across intact is the difference between contending for a trophy and watching the standings from the outside.
MEAC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
| Year |
Women |
Men |
| 2025 |
Howard |
Norfolk State |
| 2024 |
Norfolk State |
Norfolk State |
| 2023 |
Norfolk State |
Norfolk State |
| 2022 |
Howard |
Norfolk State |
| 2021 |
Norfolk State |
Norfolk State |
| 2020 |
Canceled (COVID-19) |
Canceled (COVID-19) |
| 2019 |
Norfolk State |
Norfolk State |
UP NEXT
The Spartans compete at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship on Friday, Nov. 13, in Spartanburg, S.C.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram) and @nsutfxc for cross country and track & field, or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
