Three place at Gladstein Invitational

Eastern's track and field team had three athletes placing among last weekend's Indiana University Gladstein Invitational.

Seniors Lydia Kosgei and Peter Sigilai and University of Tennessee junior Soufiane Bouchikhi, took home honors.

 With Sigilai and Bouchikhi placing, Eastern's men track and field team starts off the season ranked No. 9 in the Southeast region. According to the latest U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association regional poll, the Colonels are ahead of schools such as the University of Kentucky (13), the University of Louisville (11) and the University of North Carolina(10).

Kosgei, an honorable mention All-American in the outdoor 5,000 meters last spring, finished in first place in the women's 3,000 meters and fourth in the women's mile on Friday. Her time for the 3,000 meters, a personal best and less than a second from the Eastern record at 9:30.33, was .50 seconds faster than second place. The time is also the 17th fastest indoor women's 3,000 meters in the country. Less than an hour after she finished her first event, she ran the women's mile. Her time for the mile was 4:50.07. The time is currently the 28th fastest in the country.

"I wasn't expecting to win it," Kosgei said. "It gives me some confidence."

Sigilai finished third place in the men's mile with a time of 4:04.50. The first two places were held by runners from Oklahoma, who outpaced Sigilai by just a second. Sigilai's time was a personal-best as well as the second fastest time in the country. Just like Kosgei, Sigilai was just a second off from breaking Eastern's school record set at 4:03.37.

Two-time defending Ohio Valley Conference Male Cross Country Runner of the Year Bouchikhi placed fifth in the men's 3,000 meters. But was the third collegiate finisher with Indiana University taking second and fourth.

He outran the sixth place runner by almost five seconds. His time is currently the third-fastest in the country.

In addition to winning the women's 3,000 meters event, Kosgei was named the Ohio Valley Conference Track Athlete of the Week for the second week in a row. Her women's 3,000 meters time (9:30.33) was an OVC best. She shared the honors with Murray State sprinter Alexis Love, who also won for the second consecutive week.

"She's a very deserving young woman," Head Coach Rick Erdmann said. "She has a great attitude. I think she has some high goals and we're hoping she gets there."

"It's great," Kosgei said when asked about how she felt about winning. "It's a major compliment.  Makes me feel good."

Eastern's Track and Field team competes this weekend in the University of Kentucky-hosted Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational at the E.J. Nutter Fieldhouse in Lexington.