Kent State University
Tommy Evans Invite
Baidy Ba Wins Tommy Evans Invitational to Open Season
8/30/2024 8:51:00 PM | Cross Country
NORTON, Ohio — Senior Baidy Ba was the first runner across the finish line in the men's 6K as the Kent State cross country teams opened the 2024 campaign at the Tommy Evans Invitational on Friday.
The senior completed the course at Silver Creek Cross Country Trails in a personal-best time of 18:11.6 to pace the field of 98 competitors from a field that included three teams that were included in the USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region preseason rankings. This was the third career victory in a Golden Flashes uniform for Ba, who has been a NCAA qualifier each of the past two seasons.
Graduate student Ethan Yost also ran well in the season opener and finished in 18:52.6 for 17th place. Sophomore Jackson Albanese (19:26.2), graduate student Jacob Mirabell (19:37.1), sophomore Rylan Winkler (19:44.3), sophomore Jack Curtis (19:51.2) and senior Michael Arner (19:57.8) clocked sub-20:00 times.
Freshmen Nora Salem and Alexis Tracy were the first members of the women's team to finish the 5K race. Salem's time of 19:58.7 was good for 60th and Tracy placed 68th with a time of 20:15.0.
Junior Nicole Kuehner (20:28.7), senior Sydney Miller (20:32.6) and junior Addie LaBombard (20:55.5) also clocked sub-21:00 times.
Kent State will be back in action at the site of the 2024 Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday, Sept. 14 and travels to Muncie, Indiana for the We Fly Championship Preview.
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on X, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
Kent State Men (6K)
1. Baidy Ba – 18:11.6
17. Ethan Yost – 18:52.6
36. Jackson Albanese – 19:26.2
43. Jacob Mirabell – 19:37.1
46. Rylan Winkler – 19:44.3
52. Jack Curtis – 19:51.2
56. Michael Arner – 19:57.8
64. Isaac Perez – 20:16.0
69. Nick Huger – 20:27.4
81. Jonah Cuestas – 20:57.4
Kent State Women (5K)
60. Nora Salem – 19:58.7
68. Alexis Tracy – 20:15.0
78. Nicole Kuehner – 20:28.7
79. Sydney Miller – 20:32.6
87. Addie LaBombard – 20:55.5
93. Olivia Fenneken – 21:17.9
103. Story Jones – 21:56.6
Players Mentioned
