DOVER, Del. - With 16 runners returning from last season, the Delaware State University men's and women's cross country teams look forward to a strong 2012 campaign, beginning 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the UMES Lid-Lifter Invitational.
The Hornet women bring back two All-MEAC honorees in senior Dashera Richardson (Philadelphia, Pa.) and junior Ketsia Dornevil (Philadelphia, Pa.). The duo finished eighth (19:23.84) and 12th (19:44.90), respectively, in the 2011 MEAC Cross Country Championships. Richardson finished the year with a team- and season-best 5k time of 18:49.73, ran at the Delaware State Invitational on Oct. 7. In the same meet, Dornevil posted a season-best 5k time of 19:10.55.
Also returning for Delaware State is junior T'Nay Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.) Williams did not compete during the 2011 cross country season, but is a distance specialist who will be looked to as one of the top runners in the MEAC.
Joining the Hornets for the 2012 season are freshmen Anaya Reid (St. Cloud, Fla.), Rayanna Relerford (Bloomfield, Conn.) and Brianna Sims (New Haven, Conn.). Reid is considered to be one of the top distance runners out of the state of Florida while Relerford and Sims are also expected to do well for DSU.
On the men's side, Delaware State returns six runners, including sophomore Brandon Barnes (Dover, Del.) and junior Kevaughn Laviea (Dover, Del.). Barnes recorded a season-best 8k time of 29:34.05 at the UMES Cappy Anderson while his season-best 5k time of 16:50.41 came on Oct. 14 at the Delaware State Invitational. Laviea collected both of his season-best times on the DSU course, with an 8k time of 29:50 and a 5k time of 17:10.35.
Freshmen Terrell Oliver (Camden, Del.) and Joshua Johnson are seen to be the top newcomers for the Hornet men in their quest for a MEAC Championship.
The Hornets will try to recover from losing their two top competitors from 2011 in Kouri Falconer (Queens, N.Y.) and Donte' Holmes (Hyattsville, Md.).
DSU will also have to adjust from the loss of assistant coach Charles Bell, who retired in January after serving several years with the Hornets.
"This season will be a challenge because when Coach Bell was here, I was able to put my attention into different areas while he focused on distance," remarked DSU head coach Duane Henry. "He has taught me a lot and I will miss him, but I know I can call when I need advice."
Joining Del State and the Hawks at the UMES Lid-Lifter will be MEAC foes Hampton, Norfolk State and Morgan State in addition to the University of Maryland. The women's 5k race begins at 10:30 a.m. with the men following at approximately 10:45 a.m. on the 8k course.
The Hornets will host three races of their own this year at the Delaware State University Outreach and Research Facility in Smyrna on Sept. 7, Oct. 6 and Oct. 12.
Del State will also travel to UMES on Sept. 15 for the Cappy Anderson Invitational before going to Towson on Sept. 21.
The 2012 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will be held Saturday, Oct. 27 on the UMES campus.
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