MEN'S RESULTS I WOMEN'S RESULTS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University cross country teams continued their strong start to the 2010 season as the Colonel men finished first out of 30 teams and the Colonel women finished second out of 32 teams at the Memphis Twilight Classic on Saturday night.

Freshman Soufiane Bouchikhi led the men’s team to its third win in as many races this season. The native of Antwerp, Belgium placed second out of 264 runners, losing only to Auburn’s Ben Cheruiyot by two seconds, with an impressive 8K time of 23:17.99. That time is the best in the OVC this year by a large margin.

Bouchikhi’s teammate, sophomore Victor Kemboi, also turned in another strong performance, finishing third overall with a time of 23:53.12. Senior Evans Kiptoo placed 10th in 24:38.22 and freshman Ole Hesselbjerg placed 11th in 24:43.20. Junior Musa Kimuli rounded out EKU’s top five finishers with a 29th place finish in a time of 25:13.63.

The Colonel men ran away from a field that consisted of such notable schools as Arkansas-Little Rock, Auburn, Stephen F. Austin, South Alabama, San Jose State and OVC rivals UT Martin, Austin Peay and Jacksonville State.

The women’s team was led by the performance of senior Kat Pagano, who finished seventh out of 256 competitors with a season-best 5K time of 17:43.25.

Sophomore Picoty Leitich was not far behind Pagano as she placed ninth in a time of 17:49.79. Sophomore Jackline Barkechir was the Colonels’ third finisher, placing 12th in a time of 18:04.54, while senior Sylvia Bundotich was the Colonels’ fourth finisher, placing 22nd with a time of 18:33.38. Junior Danielle Mason rounded out EKU’s top five as she finished 23rd in a time of 18:34.20.

The Colonel women delivered a strong showing at the meet, finishing second only to Stephen F. Austin, while defeating the likes of UAB, Auburn, Samford and such OVC schools as Murray State, Jacksonville State, UT Martin and Austin Peay.

The EKU cross country teams will look to continue their streak of strong outings at the talent-laden Louisville Invitational next Saturday, Oct. 2.