Cross Country splits season opener against Idaho rivals

COLFAX, Wash. – The Washington State men's and women's cross country teams saw multiple runners finish in the top-five at the Washington State Invitational Thursday, Sept. 1 to open the 2022 season. The Cougar women won the 4K race by taking four of the top five places, while on the men's side, sophomores Brian Barsaiya and Kelvin Limo claimed the top two spots in the 6K race, with Barsaiya collecting his first win of the 2022 season.

WOMEN'S 4K RECAP
The Washington State women's cross country team opened the 2022 season in a big way, as the Cougars claimed four of the top-five spots in the women's 4k to win the WSU Invitational over Idaho.Alaina Stone Boggs led the way for the WSU women's cross country team, as the junior finished the 4K course in 13:30.2, securing second place. Stone Boggs ran average mile time of 5:25.8 to secure her first runner-up finish in a Cougar uniform.

Next to finish for WSU was sophomore Neema Kimtai, who took third after finishing the course at Colfax Golf Club in 13:49.0. Kimtai posted an average mile time of 5:33.54.

Following right behind Kimtai was junior Caroline Jerotich, who took fourth with a time of 13:55.8, pacing 5:33.89 per mile. Rounding out the top five was sophomore Mevin Jelagat, who completed the race with a time of 13:59.5, posting a pace of 5:36.28. The Cougar pack was strong throughout the race, as they helped WSU collect 21 points en route to a win over Idaho.

MEN'S 6K RECAP
Sophomore Brian Barsaiya won the men's 6K race to cap off Washington State Invitational for the Cougars, as the Cougar men's team collected 27 points to finish in second by three points behind Idaho. Barsaiya posted a time of 17:45 to collect his second-straight season-opening win. The sophomore's speedy finish came in 28 seconds ahead of the nearest Vandal runner, as he collected a mile time of Barsaiya paced 4:45.66.

Sophomore Kelvin Limo finished right on Barsaliva's tail, as he slid into second place with a time of 18:00.7. Limo ran a 4:49.87 mile time to help post the best finish of his WSU career to date.
Freshman Kyle Ortega-Gammill was one of many new Cougars to make their debut for the men's team, as the Reno, Nevada native, finished in sixth with a time of 18:36.7. The Cougars had six other freshmen make their WSU debut on the men's side.
 

COACH'S CORNER
Coach Harmon on the Women's Team's Winning Performance
"For the most part they executed what they were supposed too really well. One of the main goals that I had for them was to work together as a team, especially through the first 2,000-kilometers. We walk away knowing where we are at and what we need to work on. I think today went really well and we're in a really good position right now."
 
Coach Harmon on the Men's Team Claiming the Top-Two Spots
"Brian and Kelvin went out and commanded the race from the start. Both were very poised and worked together. They ran strong throughout the whole race. Both are leaders within our program, and they went out and demonstrated that today."

UP NEXT
The Washington State men's and women's cross country teams will take an extended break over the next few weeks, as they are set to return to competition on Sept. 23 for the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Eugene, Ore.

For more information on the Washington State cross country team, follow @WSUCougarXCTF on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.