The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, September 29
Notre Dame, Ind.
11:15 AM
University of Akron
vs
Joe Piane Cross Country Invitational
Akron Cross Country Set to Compete at Joe Piane XC Invitational
September 28 | Cross Country
JOE PIANE CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL: MEET INFORMATION (PDF) | LIVE RESULTS
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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron cross country squad returns to action on Friday, Sept. 29, as the Zips travel to Notre Dame, Ind., to run at the Joe Piane Cross Country Invitational hosted by Notre Dame.
The women's 5K Blue Race is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., followed by the men's five-mile Blue Race (11:15 a.m.), women's 5K Gold Race (12:45 p.m.) and the men's five-mile Gold Race (1:30 p.m.).
Akron will run in an 18-team men's field in the Blue Race at 11:15 a.m., including: Akron, No. 27 Alabama, Charlotte, Florida State, Furman, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan State, Montana State, No. 21 North Carolina State, No. 9 Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Southern Utah, Tulane, Washington State, Weber State, Wichita State and Youngstown State.
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The Zips will be competing in the 19-team women's field in the Gold Race at 12:45 p.m., one that includes: Akron, Chicago, Cleveland State, Green Bay, High Point, IUPUI, James Madison, Loyola Marymount, Northern Illinois, Oakland, Otterbein, Santa Clara, St. Thomas (Minn.), Tulane, Valparaiso, Western Illinois, Western Michigan and Youngstown State.
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Akron freshman Mary Munga (Nyandarua, Kenya) turned in a second-place performance in her collegiate debut to headline the Zips' efforts at the All-Ohio Cross Country Championships on Sept. 15 in Cedarville, Ohio.
On the strength of six career-best performances, the Zips placed second in the overall team race among 30 squads in the women's field, while finishing first among three competing Division I teams.
Freshman Megan Hipple (Warren, Ohio) was next across the line for Akron in the women's 6K race in a career-best time of 21:47.8 to place third.
Rounding out the Zips' scoring efforts were freshman Kayla Gonzales (Shelby, Ohio) and juniors Danielle Honaker (Ashland, Ohio) and Halle Sebest (Poland, Ohio), who crossed the line in 22:17.4, 22:38.1 and 22:39.8, respectively.
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On the men's side, Akron freshman Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) captured the men's 8K title at the Mel Brodt Collegiate Open on Sept. 15 in a time of 24:22.65 to lead the Zips to the team title in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Led by Masai, four Akron runners finished in the top 10 as part of all 10 Zips recording career-best 8K performances. Masai was followed across the line by freshmen Titus Kirui (Eldorat, Kenya) and Timothy Chesondin (Eldorat, Kenya) along with redshirt senior Chase Easterling (Mt. Orab, Ohio), who registered career-best times of 24:25.10, 24:55.36 and 25:14.80 to place second, third and seventh, respectively.
Freshman Zayd Elkurd (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) rounded out the Zips' scoring efforts with a career-best time of 25:57.83.
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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron cross country squad returns to action on Friday, Sept. 29, as the Zips travel to Notre Dame, Ind., to run at the Joe Piane Cross Country Invitational hosted by Notre Dame.
The women's 5K Blue Race is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., followed by the men's five-mile Blue Race (11:15 a.m.), women's 5K Gold Race (12:45 p.m.) and the men's five-mile Gold Race (1:30 p.m.).
Akron will run in an 18-team men's field in the Blue Race at 11:15 a.m., including: Akron, No. 27 Alabama, Charlotte, Florida State, Furman, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan State, Montana State, No. 21 North Carolina State, No. 9 Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Southern Utah, Tulane, Washington State, Weber State, Wichita State and Youngstown State.
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The Zips will be competing in the 19-team women's field in the Gold Race at 12:45 p.m., one that includes: Akron, Chicago, Cleveland State, Green Bay, High Point, IUPUI, James Madison, Loyola Marymount, Northern Illinois, Oakland, Otterbein, Santa Clara, St. Thomas (Minn.), Tulane, Valparaiso, Western Illinois, Western Michigan and Youngstown State.
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Akron freshman Mary Munga (Nyandarua, Kenya) turned in a second-place performance in her collegiate debut to headline the Zips' efforts at the All-Ohio Cross Country Championships on Sept. 15 in Cedarville, Ohio.
On the strength of six career-best performances, the Zips placed second in the overall team race among 30 squads in the women's field, while finishing first among three competing Division I teams.
Freshman Megan Hipple (Warren, Ohio) was next across the line for Akron in the women's 6K race in a career-best time of 21:47.8 to place third.
Rounding out the Zips' scoring efforts were freshman Kayla Gonzales (Shelby, Ohio) and juniors Danielle Honaker (Ashland, Ohio) and Halle Sebest (Poland, Ohio), who crossed the line in 22:17.4, 22:38.1 and 22:39.8, respectively.
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On the men's side, Akron freshman Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) captured the men's 8K title at the Mel Brodt Collegiate Open on Sept. 15 in a time of 24:22.65 to lead the Zips to the team title in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Led by Masai, four Akron runners finished in the top 10 as part of all 10 Zips recording career-best 8K performances. Masai was followed across the line by freshmen Titus Kirui (Eldorat, Kenya) and Timothy Chesondin (Eldorat, Kenya) along with redshirt senior Chase Easterling (Mt. Orab, Ohio), who registered career-best times of 24:25.10, 24:55.36 and 25:14.80 to place second, third and seventh, respectively.
Freshman Zayd Elkurd (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) rounded out the Zips' scoring efforts with a career-best time of 25:57.83.
Players Mentioned
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