CARY, NC (October 29, 2021) – South Carolina State sophomore Jada Banks won the MEAC Women’s Cross Country Individual title Friday, completing the 5K course in a time of 18:40.6.
The Lady Bulldogs, seeking their first league Cross Country title, finished fourth (97 pts., 1:45.11) in the team standings captured by two-time defending champion Norfolk State (41 pts., 1:39.04), which also won the men’s 8K team title to sweep the competition.
Banks’ time, the second-best clocking of her career, earned her the meet’s Outstanding Cross Country Performer honor, as well as All-MEAC accolades. The Conyers, GA native became only the second SC State runner to win top cross country honors. Catrice Harrison took the top prize in both 1994 and 1996.
Lady Bulldog freshman Ashanti Meyers, who finished 10th in the field with a time of 20:04.9, was also named All-MEAC, an honor awarded to the top 15 runners.
Also competing for the SC State women were Debrielle Williams, 19th in a time of 20:46.3; Makylah Jones, 35th with a time of 22:08.9, Makayla Jones, 43rd in a time of 23:29.9; and MacKenzi Zimmerman, 51st with a time of 27:12.7
The SC State men finished eighth in the 8K competition with in a time of 2:37.11. Sophomore Trey Felton finished 14th (28:28.7), while teammate Andrew Latimer, a freshman, was 26th (28:40.1).
Norfolk State swept the top three places in completing the course with a time of 2:12.41. The Spartans’ Evans Cheruiyot won Outstanding Performer honors in a time of 25:11.0.