Wildcats Earn Two Top 15 Finishes at Pre-National Invitational
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Kentucky Wildcats cross country team earned two top 15 finishes in both the women’s 6k race and the men’s 8k event at the Pre-National Invitational at the Gans Creek XC Course in Columbia, Mo. on Friday.
The Wildcats placed 10th in the women’s 6k event with 330 total points, highlighted for the second consecutive race by Doricah Minsari Isoe, finishing 16th in a personal-best time of 19:55.7. In just her first two collegiate races, the Wildcat freshman finished atop the team leaderboard in back-to-back 6k events, making her Kentucky debut on Sept. 26 at the Cowboy Jamboree and finishing 10th with a time of 20:42.2.
Sophomore Janet Jepkemboi Amimo finished with the second-best time for the Cats, placing 27th with a personal-best mark of 20:06.4. Ally Kruger, Elly Heine and Noel Barlette rounded out the top five finishers for Kentucky, placing 37th, 95th and 183rd, respectively.
In the men’s 8k race, the Wildcats placed 14th with 314 points. Sophomore Collins Kiprop Kipngok and Junior Ed Bird both crossed the finish line inside the top 20, with Kiprop Kipngok placing 13th with a 23:24.9 time and Bird in 16th at 23:29.7.
With four regular season races in the books, the Wildcats will begin preparation for the start of postseason competition at the SEC Cross Country Championships at the Tennessee XC Course at Cherokee Farm in Knoxville, Tenn. on Oct. 31.
Pre-National Invitational Results:
Women’s 6k: (10th, 330 pts)
16. Doricah Minsari Isoe – 19:55.7 (16 pts) (PR)
27. Janet Jepkemboi Amimo – 20:06.4 (25 pts) (PR)
37. Ally Kruger – 20:25.2 (35 pts)
95. Elly Heine – 21:03.1 (89 pts) (PR)
183. Noel Barlette – 21:45.9 (165 pts)
229. Morgan Dick – 22:06.5
241. Lyric Olson – 22:12.2
266. Ava Hendren – 22:28.7
319. Baylor Wolfe – 23:21.5
Men’s 8k: (14th, 314 pts)
13. Collins Kiprop Kipngok – 23:24.9 (12 pts)
16. Ed Bird – 23:29.7 (15 pts)
41.Levi Kipkurui Bachi – 24:01.1 (40 pts)
106.Eyan Turk – 24:44.3 (97 pts)
168. Alex Alston – 25:24.9 (150 pts)
184. Miles Brush – 25:34.5
211. Caden Miracle – 25:52.9
232. Lincoln Herald – 26:13.6
253. Anthony Anania – 27:09.8 (PR)
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