Oct. 30, 2004
GREENSBORO, NC - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore was well represented at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Cross Country Championships on Saturday, October 30, with Eva Slavikova and Barnabas Togom each garnering first place individual finishes.
On the women's side, Eva Slavikova finished first overall with a time of 18:31.9, netting the 2004 Female Outstanding Performer Award. Slavikova, who finished fourth in the 2003 Championships, now owns the top three individual times this season. Her time of 18:31.9 is the second highest individual among the women this year, second only to her 18:19 finish at the Towson Invitational on September 11. Slavikova has won five meets this season; the Cappy Anderson Invitational, the Towson Invitational, the ACC Pre-Meet, the Norfolk State Invitational, and the 2004 MEAC Cross Country Championship.
As a team the women finished third overall and had three runners in the Top 20 which include Slavikova, Pavla Zavoralova, who finished 16th with a time of 20:30.8, and Evelynn Mendoza, who finished 20th with a time of 20:47. Seniors Deborah Meadows and Kori Barrett finished their cross country careers, posting times of 21:06 and 21:35 respectively.
On the men's side, the team finished runners up in the championship with a score of 49, just seven points behind first-place Norfolk State. Barnabas Togom finished first overall, posting an individual time of 25:56 and garnering the 2004 Outstanding Performer Award for the men. Togom's time of 25:56 is the second best individual time this season, just 14 seconds behind the highest time of 25:42 run by Norfolk State's Cleophus Koros on October 16. Togom, who finished second in the 2003 Championships, now holds two of the top five individual times this season.
The men had five runners finish in the Top 20; Togom, Damion Drummond (27:12.1), who finished fifth, Frederick Keter (27:47.8), who finished 12th, Geoffrey Rutto (28:05.1), who finished 14th, and Clayton James (28:26.6), who finished 17th.
This ends the 2004 Cross-Country Season for the Hawks. The members will begin their indoor track and field season in January.
The following is the Official Release from the MEAC Media Relations Office.
Hampton's women and Norfolk State's men captured the 2004 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship titles, Saturday morning at Hagan-Stone Park in Greensboro, N.C. Hampton won their first title, while Norfolk State captured their fifth consecutive title.
Maryland-Eastern Shore's Eva Slavikova and Barnabas Togom were name MEAC Outstanding Performer in the women's and men's races respectively. Slavikova finished first in the women's race with a time of 18:31 and Togom finished with a time of 25:56 to win the men's race.
Hampton's Maurice Pierce was named the Outstanding Coach for the women and Kenneth Giles of Norfolk State was selected the Outstanding Coach for the men.
On the women's side, Howard was second (50), followed by Md.-Eastern Shore (90) and Fla. A&M (105). For the men, second place went to Md.-Eastern Shore (49), followed by Fla. A&M (68) and Howard (101).
Women's Team Results
1. Hampton 41
2. Howard 50
3. Md.-Eastern Shore 90
4. Florida A&M 105
5. Norfolk State 110
6. Morgan State 136
7. Delaware State 169
8. North Carolina A&T 246
9. Coppin State 251
10. South Carolina State285
11. Bethune-Cookman 297
Men's Team Results
1. Norfolk State 42
2. Md.-Eastern Shore 49
3. Florida A&M 68
4. Howard 101
5. Coppin State 107
6. North Carolina A&T 160
7. Hampton 180
8. Delaware State 240
9. Morgan State 250
10. South Carolina State310
11. Bethune-Cookman 311
Top 15 Finishers (Women)
1. Eva Slavikova (UMES) 18:31.9
2. Krystal Medlin (Ham) 19:05.8
3. Jitka Vaculikova (Ham) 19:07.4
4. Linah Tallam (Norfolk St) 19:21.5
5. Tasha Harris (Howard) 19:32.0
6. Ashley Vann (Howard) 19:37.7
7. Indira Garcia (Howard) 19:40.7
8. Cetera Bunch (Hampton) 19:49.9
9. Denisha Hudson (Norfolk St) 19:50.8
10. Eboni White (Hampton) 19:54.4
11. Michelle Gibbs (Morgan St) 20:05.0
12. Fabiana Perlingerio (Norfolk St) 20:05.0
13. Charisse Bullock (Howard) 20:14.4
14. Cuquie Melville (Delaware St) 20:16.0
15. Yatandrea Burke (Fla. A&M) 20:19.3
Top 15 Finishers (Men)
1. Barnabas Togom (UMES) 25:56.0
2. Francis Kirong (Norfolk St.) 26:35.7
3. Patrick Scott (Norfolk St.) 26:52.8
4. Cleophus Koros (Norfolk St.) 27:04.8
5. Damion Drummond (UMES) 27:12.1
6. Anthony Littlejohn (Coppin St.) 27:13.4
7. Cordis Stanfield (Howard) 27:20.7
8. Brandon King (Hampton) 27:30.4
9. Brian Griffith (Fla. A&M) 27:40.4
10. Brian Christian (Fla. A&M) 27:42.4
11. Duncan Bitok (Norfolk St.) 27:45.8
12. Frederick Keter (UMES) 27:47.8
13. Kevin Hicks (Fla. A&M) 27:53.4
14. Geoffrey Rutto (UMES) 28:05.1
15. Juma Osman (Howard) 28:10.7
