NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State women's cross country team will attempt to win its first-ever Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title this Saturday at the 2008 MEAC Cross Country Championship. The 3.1-mile (5,000 meters) race begins at 9:45 a.m. in Princess Anne, Md.

Maryland Eastern Shore won the 2007 championship (47 points) and was led by individual winner Merrecia James who finished in 18:47. Spartans finished fifth after tallying 121 points.

Sophomore Jennifer Chichester (Silver Spring, Md.) and junior Tia Miles (Richmond, Va.) are NSU's All-MEAC performers from last year. Chichester finished sixth in 19:06 at last year's championship, and leads the MEAC this season with a top time of 17:59. Miles turned in a 10th-place finish at the 2007 championship and currently ranks ninth in the conference with a top time of 18:46.

In all, the Spartans have five runners who are ranked in the conference's top-20. Sophomore Anastacia Limo (Kapsabet, Kenya), the Spartans' third finisher at the championship a year ago, ran a season-best 19:12 on the UMES course earlier this year. She is currently ranked 15th in the MEAC.

Freshmen Jamia Hutto(Orlando, Fla.) and Syeeda Gee (Philadelphia, Pa.) are ranked 17th (19:30) and 20th (19:47), respectively, in the conference this season, and have been very consistent finishers for NSU. 

NSU will also get help from juniors Marnita Patterson (Chesapeake, Va.) and Candace Shoates (Newport News, Va.), sophomore Chynell Gray (Virginia Beach, Va.), and freshmen Shaniqua Moore (Baltimore, Md.) and Georgette Priester (Glen Allen, Va.).

The Spartans are very familiar with the UMES course as all of their top-20 MEAC times this season have come in races in Princess Anne. Chichester set the course record of 17:59 on Oct. 11 in the UMES Hawk Challenge.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information on the 2008 MEAC Cross Country Championships click here.