Members of the Norfolk State men’s team celebrate their title at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Wednesday at Dick Price Stadium. (Billy Schuerman/Staff)
NORFOLK — Norfolk State senior Kai Cole and junior Victor Jumo aren’t the biggest athletes, but both were huge on Wednesday as they helped lead the Spartans to their third consecutive MEAC Outdoor Championship at William “Dick” Price Stadium.
And for the third time, the Spartans won easily as they scored 204 points, 68 ahead of Howard. This was the program’s first outdoor three-peat since they won seven in a row from 2006-12.
Jumo, a slender 5-foot-10 Kenyan, won the 5,000 meters and 1,500 meters and was runner-up in the 800.
Norfolk State’s Victor Jumo, right, crosses the finish line to win the 1,500-meter final at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Wednesday. (Billy Schuerman/Staff)
“I’m proud, I’m proud of myself,” said Jumo, who was named the meet’s Most Outstanding Track Athlete. “We’ve got a good team here and we push each other.”
For Cole, who is 5-foot-5, both of his races were too close to call.
In the 100 meters, he got out fast and had to hold off Coppin State’s Solomon Hammond. Cole ran 10.05 to Hammond’s 10.07.
Norfolk State senior Kai Cole narrowly wins the 100. He also won the 200 to help lead the Spartans to the 2024 MEAC Outdoor Championships. It's the Spartans' third consecutive title. The women finished runner-up. pic.twitter.com/3P0eWmcPIQ
He again jumped out to the lead. This time, it took nearly three minutes after the race to declare the winner.
“I could sure feel him coming, I’m not going to lie,” said Cole, who ran 20.549 to nip Delaware State’s Jalen Booth-Mitchell (20.550). “But I put all of my training to test, and just kept pushing and pumping my arms. A win is a win.”
The wins were impressive, but Cole’s times were eye-opening as both were personal bests. His previous bests were 10.24 in the 100 and 20.75 in the 200.
“I’m just glad that I was able to do it here, at my last time of running at MEACs,” said Cole, who also qualified for next month’s Olympic trials. “Just to be able to come out and drop my times by that much is just such a blessing.”
Members of the Norfolk State men's team celebrate their title at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Wednesday at Dick Price Stadium. (Billy Schuerman/Staff)
Norfolk State University Yvone Sandui raises her arms as she crosses the finish line in the 800m run finals at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. Sandui ran a time of 2:07.92. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State University men finished first at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024.
Norfolk State University Kai Cole looks to the sky to celebrate his mens 200m dash victory at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State University Victor Jumo competes in the mens 1500meter final at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State University Armani Harris takes off out of the starting blocks in the women’s 4x400 relay finals at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. The team would finish third in the event. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State University women finished second at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State runner Kai Cole celebrates his victory in the men's 100-meter dash finals at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. Cole ran a time of 10.05 seconds to win.
Norfolk State University Brooklyn Robinson competes in the women’s 100m hurdles at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State University Vincent Bond looks down to the track before the start of the mens 400m dash finals at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State University Vincent Bond Jr. crosses the finish line in the mens 4x400m relay finals at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. Norfolk State won’t he. Event in a time of 3:06.64. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State University Victor Jumo tries to take an outside corner during the first lap in the mens 800m run finals final at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State University Brooklyn Robinson, center, dashes across the finish line for seventh place in the 100m dash finals at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State University Vincent Bond, right, congratulates South Carolina State Jovan Brooks after Brooks won the mens 400m dash finals at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State's Victor Jumo, right, crosses the finish line to win the 1,500-meter final at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Wednesday. (Billy Schuerman/Staff)
Norfolk State's Kai Cole leans forward across the finish line for a narrow victory in the 100-meter dash at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. (Billy Schuerman/Staff)
Coppin State Jayeed Norbal, left, makes contact with Norfolk State University Victor Jumo as they cross the finish line in the mens 800m run final at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. Norbal would finish third behind Jumo. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State University Vincent Bond Jr. talks with teammates while taking the podium for their first place finish in the mens 4x400m relay at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Norfolk State University Jahquan Christopher takes the baton in a handoff from teammate Premier Wynn in the mens 4x400m relay finals at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Sweat gathers on the forehead of Norfolk State University Victor Jumo after competing at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 8, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
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Members of the Norfolk State men's team celebrate their title at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Wednesday at Dick Price Stadium. (Billy Schuerman/Staff)
The Spartans padded their point total in the distance events as they scored 29 points in the 1,500, 25 points in the 5,000 and 22 in the 10,000.
Other winners were Raphael Kitur (10,000 meters), Basil Koech (3,000 steeplechase) and Isaac Haywood (triple jump).
The women, who finished as runner-up, were led by thrower Leslie Young, a Norcom High grad. She won the shot put, was second in the javelin and discus and fourth in the hammer,
“I was pretty confident about my abilities, but it was just the fact of, ‘Can I produce?’ ” she said. “I was glad that I was able to produce at this meet.”
Other women winners included Mercyline Kimaiyo (5,000 and 3,000 steeplechase), Yvone Sandui (800 and 1,500) and Nyla Ward (long jump).
Kempsville grad Noah Langford had a big day for Howard University as he won the 400 hurdles in a personal-best time of 50.57.
“I wanted that title. I woke up at seven this morning thinking about it. I couldn’t even sleep,” he said. “Just doing it in front of family and friends means everything to me.”
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
