The Amazing Race: FAMU men, women repeat as MEAC cross country champions

The FAMU men and women’s cross country teams both successfully defended their conference crowns yesterday in Princess Anne, MD.

Men’s Coach Wayne Angel and women’s coach Darlene Moore both received “Most Outstanding Coach” honors for the second consecutive year.

Elias Chesire, the junior runner from Eldoret, Kenya, repeated as the individual Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion by winning first place in the 8K race with a time of 25:04.00. That performance earned him his second consecutive MEAC Cross Country Outstanding Athlete award.

Chesire’s placing helped the Rattler men sweep the top four spots in the race. Daniel Cheruiyot, Kevin Marindich, and Geoffrey Sambu took second, third, and fourth place, respectively. 

“Our team had an outstanding meet,” Angel said.  “We had the goal of taking the 1-2-3-4 sweep, which I thought we were capable of if we ran our race.  The reality of it happening is something to behold.  I was really pleased with how our Rattlers executed our strategy,” Angel said.

Effiey Kosgei, a sophomore from Eldoret, Kenya, led the Lady Rattlers by taking second place overall, coming just .8 seconds behind Morgan's Ashley Seymour.

“They say it's harder to repeat than win the first one. I think it has to do with the pressure placed on a champion. I am proud of my young ladies for responding to the challenge,” Moore said.