TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Redshirt sophomore James Sugira finished 10^th in a loaded field to lead the Eastern Kentucky University men's cross country team to a 14^th place finish in the Garnet Race of the Florida State Winter XC Classic on Friday at Apalachee Regional Park.
 
The EKU women finished 18^th in the Garnet Race.
 
It was Sugira's first significant cross country action since the 2018 NCAA Championships, a race in which he finished 14^th and earned All-America honors. The native of Kigali, Rwanda made an impressive return on Friday, covering the 8K course in a time of 23:48.6 to take 10^th out of 142 competitors.
 
Junior Ahmed Jaziri also delivered a solid performance, finishing 33^rd in a time of 24:15.1
 
Junior Joan Tapias (92^nd / 25:14.7), freshman Charles Kipchumba (101^st / 25:24.6) and sophomore Keeton Thornsberry (116^th / 25:49.5) rounded out EKU's scoring five at the meet.
 
Junior Jackson Siddall competed in the men's Gold Race for EKU and finished 21^st out of 91 runners with an 8K time of 25:41.4.
 
Redshirt sophomore Laura Taborda paced the women's team in Friday's Garnet Race. She finished 48^th out of 126 competitors with a 6K time of 21:25.7.
 
Sophomore Grace Kilroy (114^th / 22:38.3), junior Saskia Pingpank (116^th / 22:44.1), junior Jeanne Reix Charat (118^th / 22:51.5) and sophomore Lou Trois (120^th / 22:54.2) rounded out Eastern's top five on the day.
 
Senior Lilian Jeptoo Kiborus raced in the women's Gold Race, notably finished 24^th overall in a time of 22:43.9.
 
The cross country teams' next scheduled event is the OVC Championships, which will be held March 1 in Clarksville, Tennessee.