RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University track and field teams delivered strong performances at two different meets over the weekend – the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville, Virginia and the Kentucky Invitational in Lexington.
 
Jone Zabaleta Larranaga and Ahmed Jaziri highlighted the Colonels' exploits on Friday night in Charlottesville.
 
Zabaleta Larranaga ran a personal-best 16:02.5 in the women's 5,000 meters. That time is No. 2 in EKU history and just over three seconds off the school record. It also currently ranks No. 2 in the ASUN and No. 28 in the NCAA East Region this season.
 
Jaziri made his 2022 debut in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, clocking a time of 8:39.4. That time currently ranks No. 4 in the NCAA East Region. Jaziri is the EKU record holder in the steeplechase (8:32.9), and he finished 10^th in the event at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last June in Eugene, Oregon.
 
Nikodem Dworczak also posted a personal-best in the steeplechase on Friday, running a time of 9:10.1. That time currently ranks No. 6 in the ASUN. The Colonels now own three of the top six men's steeplechase times in the conference this season.
 
Laura Taborda and Ahmed Sayf Kadri highlighted Friday night's action at the Kentucky Invitational.
 
Taborda dropped her personal-best in the women's 1,500 meters to 4:24.52. That time puts her at No. 2 in the ASUN this season.
 
Sayf Kadri, meanwhile, won the men's 1,500 meters in Lexington, clocking a PB of 3:46.65. That time is the fastest by a freshman in the ASUN this season, and it ranks No. 6 overall. It is also the fastest metric mile by a Colonel since 2015.
 
Another freshman, Madison Fleming, drew the spotlight on Saturday in Lexington. Fleming finished fifth in the finals of the women's 100-meter hurdles, dropping a big personal-best of 13.76. That time is No. 3 in the ASUN this season, and it ties Fleming for fifth all-time at EKU.
 
Samuel Carter and Joy Nwokike also stood out in the triple jump on Saturday. Carter won the men's triple jump with a leap of 47-3, while Nwokike went 38-11.5 in the women's triple jump. That mark ranks her No. 2 all-time at EKU.
 
The track and field Colonels return to action at the Clark Wood Invitational next weekend in Louisville.