COLLEGE HONORS
Former Hampton University football standout Kendall Langford has been named a member of the 2026 MEAC Hall of Fame class.
Langford will join administrator Sandra Booker of Bethune-Cookman, tennis player Dr. Riccardo Jones of North Carolina Central, distance runner Khalil Rmidi Kinini of Maryland Eastern Shore and basketball player Tywain McKee of Coppin State in the class.
The inductees will be enshrined on March 12 at the Norfolk Marriott Waterside Hotel.
Langford was one of the Pirates’ most dominant defensive ends. He finished his career with 236 tackles, which ranks eighth on the school’s all-time list. He also had 56 tackles for loss and 23 sacks. He was an Associated Press All-American and a three-time All-MEAC first-team selection.
The Petersburg native was a third-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in the 2008 NFL draft. He went on to have a 10-year pro career, also playing with the St. Louis Rams, Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans. He made 113 starts and amassed 290 tackles in the NFL.
COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY
NSU runners sweep MEAC awards
Norfolk State swept the MEAC cross country awards this week as Ian Kimutai and Sonia Koech claimed Runner of the Week honors after standout performances at the UMES Season Opener.
Kimutai won the men’s 5K race in 15 minutes, 12.51 seconds, leading the Spartans to a team victory.
Koech claimed the women’s 3k title, clocking in at 16:06.19 to lift NSU to a first-place team finish.
Norfolk State will compete at the Virginia Invitational on Sept. 12 in Charlottesville.
COLLEGE LACROSSE
Matthews named Hampton U assistant
Hampton University men’s lacrosse coach Vincent Culpepper announced the hiring of Rick Matthews as the newest member of his first coaching staff.
Matthews spent the past 14 seasons on the staff at St. Paul’s Schools in Brooklandville, Maryland, coaching at the varsity, JV and middle school levels.
He is a 2000 graduate of Limestone College (South Carolina), where he was a member of an NCAA Division II national championship team and a first-team All-American his senior season. He then played professionally for the Ottawa Rebels of the National Lacrosse League.
WNBA
Former Hokie signs 7-day deal
The Golden State Valkyries have signed center Elizabeth Kitley, a former Virginia Tech star, to a seven-day hardship contract.
Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes has been ruled out for approximately one week with a knee injury.
Kitley was the 24th overall selection by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2024 draft and was rehabbing from a torn ACL at the time. She played in 12 games for the Aces this season, averaging 1.3 points and 1.4 rebounds.
Briefly
Virginia Tech’s football home opener against Vanderbilt on Saturday night has been announced as a sellout. The 7:30 p.m. game marks the eighth straight sellout at Lane Stadium.
Christopher Newport women’s basketball coach Bill Broderick announced that Madison Hagen has joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach. She was previously an assistant coach and assistant director of operations at Northern Colorado.