HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Eastern Kentucky cross country teams finished in the top 10 at the North Alabama Showcase at John Hunt Cross Country Park on Friday. The men finished seventh overall with 259 points and the women had 251 points leading to an eighth-place finish.
 
"I was very proud of the groups that ran," said head coach Cory Erdmann. "We competed well, but there are some areas where we can improve on our execution. Overall, it was a good day."
 
The EKU men were led by senior Keeton Thornsberry in the 8K race finishing in 33^rd place out of 366 runners with a time of 24:22.93. Freshman Rolando Ortiz posted a time of 24:30.41 for 42^nd place, while sophomore Nicodemus Rotich finished in 54^th place with a time of 24:39.18. Junior Caleb Bolus clocked a time of 24:46.86 finishing in 67^th place in his debut with the Colonels. Junior Alex Leshan rounded out the EKU slate of scorers in 75^th place with a time of 24:52.14. Sophomore Jan Badia-Celma (25:03.36) and freshman Aniol Borras (25:40.28) finished in 89^th place and 142^nd place, respectively.
 
On the women's side, graduate student Jone Zabaleta Larranaga led the Colonels in the 5K race finishing in fifth place out of 389 competitors with a time of 16:41.90. Senior Grace Kilroy clocked a time of 17:38.78 for 34^th place, while senior Anouk van Gils claimed 40^th place with a time of 17:49.02. Freshman Irene Rubio Miralles (18:22.60) and senior Katy Chapman (18:29.99) rounded out the scoring for the Maroon and White finishing in 89^th place and 101^st place, respectively.
 
Alabama finished first overall for the men (74) and women (73). Alabama's Victor Kiprop won the men's 8K race (23:18.30) while Kentucky's Perri Bockrath won the women's 5K race (16:24.54).
 
After an off weekend, the Colonels will compete in the Joe Piane Invite on Sept. 30 in South Bend, Ind., and Live in Louisville on Oct. 1 in Louisville, Ky.
 
EKU Men's Individual Results – 8K
33 Keeton Thornsberry - 24:22.93
42 Rolando Ortiz - 24:30.41
54 Nicodemus Rotich - 24:39.18
67 Caleb Bolus - 24:46.86
75 Alex Leshan - 24:52.14
89 Jan Badia-Celma - 25:03.36
142 Aniol Borras - 25:40.28
 
EKU Women's Individual Results – 5K
5 Jone Zabaleta Larranaga - 16:41.90
34 Grace Kilroy - 17:38.78
40 Anouk van Gils - 17:49.02
89 Irene Rubio Miralles - 18:22.60
101 Katy Chapman – 18:29.99