TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | The Florida A&M University cross country teams will compete on Saturday in the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Cross Country Championships, hosted by Delaware State University. The championships will be held at the Delaware State University Outreach and Research Center in Smyrna, Del.
The championships will begin with the women's five-kilometer (5K) race at 11 a.m., with the men's eight-kilometer (8K) race beginning at 12 p.m.
The FAMU women's team are the eight-time defending MEAC champions, an unprecedented feat in the conference, and look to defend their crown and continue their reign of dominance.
The Lady Rattlers return to Delaware with a wealth of experience, as four of FAMU's five runners were members of the 2018 championship team.
In their most recent meet, the Lady Rattlers finished 15th at the Florida State University Cross Country Invitational on Oct. 11. Mercy Rotich recorded a time 18:32.0, the fastest individual time of the season for FAMU.
The men's cross country team returns to the MEAC Championships for the first time since 2014. Brian Kiprop holds the fastest 8K time for the Rattlers, this season, at 25:24.81.
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month, MEAC student-athletes will wear pink racing bibs and head coaches will wear pink ribbon pins during the championships. The MEAC also encourages fans to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
On Saturday morning, the MEAC will team up with Delaware State to recognize breast cancer survivors and to remember those we've lost with a balloon launch. The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. at the pavilion adjacent to the course.
Donations will go to the American Cancer Society and the Delaware State University Department of Athletics.
The 2019 MEAC Cross Country Championships are free and open to the public.
The Delaware State University Outreach and Research Center is located at 884 Smyrna-Leipsic Road in Smyrna, Del.
For complete men's and women's cross country championship information, visit Championship Central at www.MEACsports.com.
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