Oct. 22, 2008

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) senior Merrecia James (Portland, Jamaica) was named MEAC Athlete of the Week for cross country by the conference Wednesday.

James finished fifth in 18:59.95 at Delaware's Blue Hen Classic five-kilometer race, leading the Lady Hawks to a fourth-place result as a team.

The Hawks host the MEAC Cross Country Championships Saturday. UMES will attempt to become the first men's and women's squads to repeat as conference champions since Coppin State in 1992. The women's 5K is set for 9:45 a.m., while the men's eight-kilometer race begins at 10:30 a.m.