SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's cross country team finished fifth and the men's team placed ninth in the Gold Races of Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invitational on Friday at Burke Golf Course.
 
The EKU women finished fifth in the Gold Race with 233 points. The Colonels notably defeated the likes of Clemson (240), Cincinnati (253), Ohio State (262) and ASUN opponent Kennesaw State (271).
 
Eastern was led by newcomer Jone Zabaleta Larranaga. In her EKU debut, Zabaleta-Larranag finished 13^th out of 171 competitors, covering the 5K course in a time of 17:41.5. Sophomore Laura Taborda was right behind her in 14^th place with a time of 17:42.8.
 
Senior Beighley Ayers (18:36.0) and sophomore Grace Kilroy (18:39.4) were EKU's 3-4 runners on the day, finishing 61^st and 66^th, respectively.
 
Senior Saskia Pingpank rounded out the Colonels' scoring five, placing 81^st in a time of 18:49.3.
 
The EKU men took ninth in the Gold Race with 245 points, finishing just behind Auburn (225).
 
All-American Ahmed Jaziri made his season debut for the Colonels and did not disappoint, placing second out of 152 competitors while covering the 8K course in a time of 24:26.6.
 
Freshman Charles Kipchumba finished second on the team and 36^th overall in a time of 25:30.3. He was followed by sophomore Enock Kipchumba (54^th / 25:53.4), sophomore Nikodem Dworczak (74^th / 26:19.3), and junior Jackson Siddall (81^st / 26:25.4).
 
The Colonels return to action on Friday, October 15 at the UVA Invitational in Charlottesville, Virginia.