GREENSBORO – This weekend the North Carolina A&T men's and women's cross country teams will head to the MEAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championship at Delaware State University Outreach and Research Center in Smyrna, Del., Saturday morning more confident than they've been in years.
Last year the men came in second place; second is the highest ranking either team has seen in nearly two decades of competition at the MEAC Championship. But after two first-place wins at the Pre-Conference Run Invitational, both teams have a chance to make history on Saturday.
While the men have been inching toward a win—placing fifth in 2011, fourth in 2012, third in 2013, and second in 2014—the ladies have made improvements from recent years. In winning their last invitational, the women's team heads into the championship with momentum not felt in years.
Junior Darren White and freshman Hakeem Mustafaa have two of the top-10 times in the conference this season. White ran a 25.32.0 in Asheville earlier this season to break the school record previously held by him. Mustafaa ran a 25:39.70 in Asheville for the sixth-fastest time in the conference this season and senior Perry Cabean could also seem himself finishing among the Top-15 on Saturday.
“I'm looking to see good performances from everyone,” said Perry Cabean, the assistant track and field coach who oversees cross country. “We've put them in some tough situations all year long to prepare for this race.”
Sophomore Miranda Green will lead the ladies. She had her best time at the Elon Invitational when she ran a 19:30.60. Freshman Helen Griffith has also helped transform the women's program. She ran 19:33.10 in Asheville for her best time.
With everyone on the team looking healthy and after a one week break from competition, the Aggies have a shot at setting a school record with two MEAC titles. “I think we have a good opportunity to earn All-MEAC honors. They have some really good teams competing but I think our athletes have just as good of an opportunity as anyone,” Cabean said.
The competition will begin on Saturday, October 31 at 9:45 a.m.
