MONROE, La. – Two weeks after earning a pair of Top-5 finishes at the Mississippi College Season Opener, the ULM cross country team heads to Ruston, La., to participate in the Louisiana Tech / Mook 4 Invitational on Saturday.
The race will take place at the Louisiana Tech Farm, a 100-percent grass course that has two half-mile loops and a pair of 1.5-mile loops. The men's 4k event is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. and the women's 4k event will follow at 9:15 a.m.
"It has been two weeks since our first competition, so the team is further along in fitness than they were previously," assistant coach for distance and cross country Gabriella Gaudreault said. "This meet will be a good benchmark for overall improvement, and to see what we need to adjust moving forward to prepare for our first 5k and 8k competitions coming up in the beginning of October. I am looking forward to seeing the men and women run closer together in their respective races, and to minimize the time spread amongst our top runners. Both teams have been training very well, and I think we will see some breakthrough performances at this meet."
The Warhawk men's team capped off the first race of the season by finishing third on August 30. Three individuals on the men's unit placed inside the Top-15, including Kiprotich Mitei, who finished second among all individuals with a time of 16:29.58. Teammate Eric Hawkins, with a time of 17:21.92, enjoyed the second-best time of any Warhawk in the men's race as he finished seventh. Gabriel Wilcox, who completed the course in a time of 17:32.72, was just outside the Top-10 with an 11th-place outing.
Meanwhile, the women were fourth at the event, highlighted by three runners inside the Top-15. The top finisher for ULM was Edith Jebet, who closed the race in sixth at a time of 16:28.38. Angela Jepchirchir was the next runner to cross the line for the Warhawks, placing seventh, in a time of 16:37.23. Freshman Kaye-Loni Bowden wrapped up the first race of her collegiate career 15th at a mark of 17:37.46.
For more information on the ULM cross country team check out www.ulmwarhawks.com.
