STATE COLLEGE, Pa. ? The University of Kentucky cross country teams competed at the Penn State National Invite Saturday, with the women?s team taking sixth and the men finishing 20th. Senior Allison Grace paced the women?s squad with an impressive 15th-place performance, while junior John Ricahrdson crossed the finish line first for the men in 33rd.

For the ninth consecutive race — dating back to last season — Grace came in first for Cats, finishing the 6K course in 21:17. Sophomore Liliane Sparkes trailed Grace in 34th, with a time of 22:01.

The next three harriers for the Cats were separated by only twenty seconds. Sophomore Lavera Morris (49th, 22:20), junior Georganne Way (69th, 22:36) and sophomore Andrea Brown (73rd, 22:40) rounded out the Cats? top five.

Junior Emily King and freshmen Andrea Halasek and Whitney Popp also competed for Kentucky.

As a team, UK improved seven spots from last season?s 13th-place performance.

No. 1 Duke took home the team title, placing five racers in the top-10, including the top three. The Blue Devils? Shannon Rowbury won the individual title in 20:34.

The men?s squad was led by Richardson (33rd, 26:07) and sophomore Andre Silva (60th, 26:29) on the 5.2-mile course. Richardson and Silva have finished one-two, respectively, in all three meets for UK this season.

Junior Jonathan Thomas finished 133rd (27:11), followed by sophomore Stephan Smith (162nd, 27:31) and freshman Ryan Finn (180th, 27:43).

Eastern Michigan won the men?s team title, while Providence?s Martin Fagan won the individual crown in 24:56.

Up next, Kentucky will travel to Columbia, S.C. for the SEC Championships, Sat., Oct. 29.

Penn State Nationals
Blue Golf Course
Oct. 15
Weather ? 70 degrees, sunny

Women ? 6K, Sixth Place out of 32 teams, 240 points

1. A. Grace (15th, 21:17), 2. L. Sparkes (34th, 22:01), 3. L. Morris (49th, 22:20), 4. G. Way (69th, 22:36), 5. A. Brown (73rd, 22:40), 6. E. King (126th, 23:27), 7. A. Halasek (155th, 23:50), 8. W. Popp (249th, 25:09)

Men ? 5.2-miles, 20th place out of 37 teams, 568 points

1. J. Richardson (33rd, 26:07), 2. A. Silva (60th, 26:29), 3. J. Thomas (133rd, 27:11), 4. S. Smith (162nd, 27:31), 5. R. Finn (180th, 27:43), 6. A. Thompson (199th, 28:01), 7. B. Hordusky (213th, 28:18)