Kent State University
MAC Championships
Men’s Cross Country Duo Runs Historic Race at MAC Championships
10/29/2022 5:27:00 PM | Cross Country
ATHENS, Ohio — Sophomore Baidy Ba and junior Joe Farley made history Saturday afternoon at the 2022 Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championships as the first Kent State runners to clock sub-24:00 times in the men's 8K race at the conference meet. The duo led the men's team its best MAC finish since 2011.
Ba crossed the finish line in 23:55.6 to place seventh and earn All-MAC First Team honors. Farley took ninth with a personal-best time of 23:56.7 for All-MAC Second Team accolades. Ba and Farley are the first Golden Flashes teammates to post top-10 finishes since 2009.
Redshirt junior Shadrack Kipkosgei and junior Ethan Yost placed 30th and 31st, respectively. Kipkosgei ran a time of 25:03.8 and Yost was right behind in 25:04.0. Sophomore Jonah Cuestas was Kent State's final scorer, finishing in 25:26.0 for 41st place.
The Flashes placed eighth in the women's 6K race, matching their best finish since 2009 and two spots ahead of Akron to earn a point in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge. Kent State's depth was on display with each of the top six runners setting new 6K personal-best times and finishing within 50 seconds of each other.
Graduate student Leah Lisle was the first Flash across the finish line in 21:47.8 for 33rd place. Senior Nina Zraik was next in 21:59.5 for 42nd and sophomore Sydney Gallagher was right behind in 43rd with a time of 22:09.4. Senior Nicole DiCicco (22:19.7) and sophomore Ariana Manos (22:25.0) finished 50th and 55th, respectively, to round out the Flashes' scorers.
Kent State now focuses on preparation for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday, Nov. 11. The meet will be held at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
Men's Team Results (8K)
1. Miami – 46
2. Toledo – 54
3. Eastern Michigan – 79
4. Buffalo –111
5. Kent State – 111
6. Ohio – 168
7. Central Michigan – 175
8. Bowling Green – 176
*Buffalo finished ahead of Kent State via tiebreaker
KSU Individuals (Men)
7. Baidy Ba – 23:55.6
9. Joe Farley – 23:56.7
30. Shadrack Kipkosgei – 25:03.8
31. Ethan Yost – 25:04.0
41. Jonah Cuestas – 25:26.0
57. Dylan McBride – 26:08.7
65. Trey Double – 26:53.4
67. Michael Arner – 27:04.0
69. Jacob Mirabell – 27:11.0
Women's Team Results (6K)
1. Toledo – 29
2. Ohio – 83
3. Eastern Michigan – 106
4. Miami – 126
5. Western Michigan – 127
6. Bowling Green – 138
7. Central Michigan – 161
8. Kent State – 209
9. Ball State – 253
10. Akron – 282
11. Buffalo – 292
12. Northern Illinois - 350
KSU Individuals (Women)
33. Leah Lisle – 21:47.8
42. Nina Zraik – 21:59.5
43. Sydney Gallagher – 22:09.4
50. Nicole DiCicco – 22:19.7
55. Ariana Manos – 22:25.0
61. Anna Jones – 22:36.0
70. Sydney Miller – 22:57.2
75. Nicole Kuehner – 23:05.4
