SOUTH BEND, Ind.—Junior Joyce Kimeli, making her 2019 debut, ran an outstanding race en route to a third-place finish over 5k at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational at the Burke Golf Course Friday. The 2018 All-SEC performer crossed in 16:20.69, finishing behind Weini Kelati of New Mexico and Alecia Monson of Wisconsin. Kelati was the 2018 NCAA Cross Country runner up, while Monson was fourth at nationals a year ago.
The Auburn men also had a strong showing on the team side, finishing 10th, with four runners finishing in the top 60, led by sophomore Silas Kipngetich, who crossed the five-mile course in 25:08.01. Junior Tommy McDonough was 40th (25:15.83), senior Andy Smith was 53rd (25:22.27), while junior Jack Rogers was 57th (25:23.80). Rogers' younger brother, Evan, a freshman for the Tigers, rounded out the scoring crossing in 26:19.36 for 114th place.
On the women's side, the Tigers finished 19th in the team standings. Sophomore Faith Bett was 73rd finishing in 17:22.30, while sophomore Abbey Zane was 126th in 17:48.07. Freshman Hannah Dyal (17:55.41) and sophomore Hannah Tarwater (18:12.24) rounded out Auburn's team scoring finishing in 139th and 162nd.
Auburn returns to action Friday, November 1 at the Southeastern Conference Championships in Lexington, Ky.