MEN'S RESULTS I WOMEN'S RESULTS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s cross country team finished seventh out of 34 teams while the women’s team finished 14th out of 37 teams at the Southeast Region Championships at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park on Saturday. Freshman Soufiane Bouchikhi finished third out of 231 runners in the men’s race and qualified for the NCAA Championships.

Bouchikhi covered the 10K course in a time of 30:18.8 and was defeated only by last year’s national champion, Liberty’s Sam Chelanga (29:55.8), and Chelanga’s teammate, Evans Kigen (30:11.5). He defeated the ACC champion, Virginia’s Emil Heineking (30:24.9), and the BIG EAST runner-up, Louisville’s Michael Eaton (30:20.1). The Antwerp, Belgium native is the latest in a long line of Colonels to qualify for the NCAA Championships, joining Jacob Korir and Joseph Maina (2007) and Wesley Ruttoh (2009).

Junior Evans Kiptoo was the Colonels’ second finisher for the first time this season, placing 25th overall with a time of 31:13.7. Bouchikhi and Kiptoo were named All-Southeast Region following the meet.

Sophomore Victor Kemboi finished 31st with a time of 31:31.7 and junior David Mutuse finished 52nd with a time of 32:06.3, but the Colonels’ fifth runner, sophomore Daniel Jones, finished 82nd with a time of 32:49.2. Freshman Ole Hesselbjerg (92nd/33:01.9) and junior Musa Kimuli (173rd/34:40.0) rounded out EKU’s competitors.

William and Mary won the men’s race while Duke finished second. Both teams automatically advance to the NCAA Championships. According to head coach Rick Erdmann, the next four finishers (NC State, Richmond, Louisville and Virginia) all have a good shot of qualifying as at-large teams. If so, that makes EKU the first team not to make it in. The official NCAA Championships field will be revealed on Sunday.

Senior Kat Pagano led the women’s team, finishing 39th out of 253 runners and covering the 6K course in a time of 21:30.7. Sophomore Picoty Leitich finished 59th with a time of 21:44.8, senior Sylvia Bundotich finished 111th with a time of 22:38.6, junior Danielle Mason finished 114th with a time of 22:40.3 and freshman Hannah Miller rounded out the Colonels’ top five finishers with a 119th place finish and a time of 22:42.5.Sophomore Jackline Barkechir (146th/23:01.4) and senior Ashli Joseph (175th/23:24.5) also competed for the women’s team.

Virginia won the women’s race while North Carolina finished second. EKU tied with Kentucky in 14th place. Louisville finished in 13th place and in-state rival Western Kentucky finished in 11th place.

Bouchikhi will compete at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind.