Kurui Cruises to Second as Cougs Compete at Joe Piane Invitational

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Washington State Cross Country team competed in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, Friday morning. Cougar freshman Evans Kurui finished second in a competitive men’s 8k, leading the men to an 11th place finish in the Blue division. 

In the women’s 5k, senior Neema Kimtai took the top Cougar spot with a time of 17:01.4 and finished 52nd overall. Senior Alaina Stone Boggs concluded the race just behind Kimtai, clocking a 17:01.5 PR and finished 53rd overall. The women’s team finished 12th overall in the Blue division with 374 points, with Caroline Jepkorir, Jessica Duran, Kalena Narus, and Lindsey Siebert racing in their first competitive 5k. Nicole Bissell set a personal best with a time of 17:46.5. 

While Kurui claimed second overall in the men’s 8k with a personal-best 22:24.7, senior Brian Barsaiya finished 25th, setting a PR time of 23:12.1. Evan Bruce, Leif Swanson, Eric Swedin, and Grayson Wilcott all set 8k personal bests as the men’s team finished 11th with 296 points. 

The Cougs will return to action Saturday, October 19, competing in NCAA Pre-Nationals at Madison Wisconsin, and at the LC State Invitational in Lewiston, Idaho. 

Womens 5k – Team Results 

1. Northern Arizona, 52 points  

2. BYU, 65 points 

3. Notre Dame, 70 points 

4. Liberty, 189 points 

5. Boise State, 204 points 

6. Texas Tech, 236 points 

7. Adams State, 243 

8. Wyoming, 261 points 

9. Michigan State, 300 points 

10. Oklahoma, 356 points 

11. Vanderbilt, 373 points 

12. Washington State, 374 points 

13. Bradley, 396 points 

14. Grand Valley State, 409 points 

15. Eastern Michigan, 418 points 

16. CBU, 429 points 

17. Belmont, 439 points 

18. Kansas, 445 points 

19. Western Ontario, 446 points 

20. Central Michigan, 453 points 

21. Perdue, 481 points 

22. Mississippi State, 489 points 

Womens 5k – WSU Individuals 

Neema Kimtai, 17:01.4, 52nd 

Alaina Stone Boggs, 17:01.5, 53rd (PR) 

Caroline Jepkorir, 17:03.3, 58th (PR)* 

Jessica Duran, 17:43.4, 116th (PR)* 

Nicole Bissell, 17:46.5, 123rd (PR) 

Kaleena Narus, 18:08.5, 158th (PR)* 

Lindsay Siebert, 18:17.1, 164th (PR)* 

Zenah Cheptoo, DNF 

Men’s 8k – Team Results 

1. Notre Dame, 55 points 

2. Northern Arizona, 68 points 

3. CBU    , 112 points 

4. Wyoming, 150 points 

5. Michigan State, 167 points 

6. Boise State, 194 points 

7. Texas Tech, 224 points 

8. Grand Valley State,…