JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the fourth consecutive season, Eastern Kentucky University's men's cross country team claimed the ASUN Conference team title this Friday, with the women finishing second behind Lipscomb.
 
On the course, the men were led by Taha Er Raouy, who claimed ASUN Male Runner of the Year honors with a first-place finish in a conference championship record time of 23:16.9.
 
Er Raouy broke the previous record held by former Colonel, Ahmed Jaziri.
 
The Moroccan native was closely followed by teammates Brian Kimutai (23:17.7), Miguel Baidal (23:26.2), and Justine Kipkoech (23:27.6) in second through fourth, respectively, joining Er Raouy as First Team All-ASUN members.
 
Keeton Thornsberry was the next Colonel to finish, coming in seventh place in a time of 23:33.3 to earn a spot on the All-ASUN Second Team.
 
Mario Priego and Tomas Vega finished 12^th and 13^th, respectively, in times of 23:45.1 and 23:47.4, good enough to earn a place on the third all-conference team along with German Vega, who finished 15^th in a time of 23:49.1.
 
Griffin Staude finished 18^th in a time of 23:51.9, followed by Cosmas Kiprop in 22^nd at 24:03.5, earning Kiprop a place with Kimutai on the ASUN's All-Freshman Team.
 
As a team, the men finished with a team score of 16, followed by Lipscomb at 51 points.
 
Cory Erdmann was also named ASUN's Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year.
 
The team title marks the program's 30^th men's title since 1984.
 
Women's Race
 
The women of EKU finished second in the team standings with 57 points, trailing only Lipscomb with 29.

The second place finish is the team's highest since joining the ASUN.
 
In her first ASUN Cross Country Championship, Edna Chelulei led the Colonels with a fourth-place finish in 16:28.0, earning First Team All-ASUN honors and being named the ASUN's Freshman of the Year.
 
The next two across the line for EKU were Metrine Serem (16:55.4) and Khadija Ennasri (17:00.6) as the pair earned Second Team All-ASUN Honors.
 
Freshman Morgan Kobylinski finished in 16^th in 17:21.1, followed by Ann Kiplagat in two spots behind in 17:23.3, as the pair joined Serem on the ASUN's All-Freshman Team.
 
Rounding things out for EKU were Clara Barbosa in 26^th place in a time of 17:36.9 and Bryce Alan Thornsbury in 63^rd at 18:51.7.
 
Up Next
 
The Colonels will now prepare for the NCAA Southeast Regionals on Friday, November 14, in Charlottesville, Va.
 
Men's Team Scores
 
1. EKU, 16
2. Lipscomb, 51
3. North Florida, 88
4. North Alabama, 156
5. Bellarmine, 161
6. Central Arkansas, 168
7. FGCU, 191
8. Stetson, 198
9. West Georgia, 239
10. Queens, 253
11. Austin Peay, 354
12. Jacksonville, 367
 
Women's Team Scores
 
1. Lipscomb, 29
2. EKU, 57
3. North Florida, 80
4. FGCU, 123
5. Central Arkansas, 125
6. Queens, 214
6. Stetson, 214
8. Jacksonville, 217
9. Austin Peay, 256
10. West Georgia, 265
11. North Alabama, 290
12. Bellarmine, 308