HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Eastern Kentucky cross country teams travel to Alabama for the second time this season to compete in the ASUN Cross Country Championships at John Hunt Park on Saturday, October 29. The women will run the 5K race at 8:00 am CT while the men will compete in the 8K race at 8:45 am CT.
 
"Our men and women have worked very hard all year and are prepared and ready for the challenge ahead. We look forward to heading to Huntsville and putting our best foot forward," head coach Cory Erdmann said. "The expectation for both our groups is to give their best effort and to represent EKU well at this championship."
 
Graduate student Jone Zabaleta Larranaga led the women at the XC 23 Invitational posting the 5K time of 16:51.60 finishing in seventh place, as she earned a top 10 finish in all three races that she ran this season. Zabaleta Larranaga finished in fourth place at the ASUN Cross Country Championships last season.
 
Graduate students Zabaleta Larranaga, Saskia Pingpank, Alicia Recio, seniors Katy Chapman, Christina DiFalco, Grace Kilroy, Anouk van Gils, and freshman Irene Rubio Miralles will lace up for the Colonels.
 
Senior Enock Kipchumba led the men at the XC 23 Invitational clocking an 8K time of 23:35.60 for a 14th place finish, thus earning ASUN Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week last week. Graduate student Ahmed Jaziri earned a gold medal at the ASUN Cross Country Championships last season, while graduate student Joan Tapias finished in fourth place. Jaziri will be running in his first race of the season on Saturday.
 
Nine men will compete for the Maroon and White including Tapias, Jaziri, seniors Kipchumba, Hakim Abouzouhir, Nikodem Dworczak, Jackson Siddall, Keeton Thornsberry, sophomores Ahmed Kadri, and Nicodemus Rotich.
 
North Florida won the conference championship for the men last season, while Liberty earned a conference title for the women. The other teams in the field include Austin Peay, Bellarmine, Central Arkansas, FGCU, Jacksonville, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, North Alabama, Queens, and Stetson.