NIACC cross country teams compete at Loras Invitational on Friday

DUBUQUE - The NIACC men's and women's cross country teams return to action Friday at the Loras College Cross Country Invitational.

The women's 6-kilometer race starts at 4:30 p.m. at the Dubuque Soccer Complex. The men's 8K race starts at 5:15 p.m.

The NIACC men and women last competed at the University of Arkansas Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 1.

At the Chile Pepper Festival, NIACC sophomore Wal Khat placed 22nd in the Division II race and set the school's 8-kilometer school record in 24 minutes, 49 seconds.

Khat broke the school record held by Imad Amenzou, who set the old mark of 25:12 at the 2015 Chile Pepper Festival.

At the Chile Pepper Festival, NIACC placed 14th out of 44 teams in the Division II race with 476 points.

NIACC's Zach Freund placed 80th in 26:10, which ranks 12th on the school's all-time 8K list. Jose Aguilera was 114th in 26:40, which ranks 18th on the school's career 8K list.

In the women's Division II race at the Chile Pepper Festival, NIACC was 33rd with 954 points.

Sophomore Kendra Schmidt led NIACC with a 145th place finish in a time of 20:17 in the 5K race. Schmidt's time of 20:17 ranks 12th on the school's career 5K list.

Also for the Lady Trojans, Amy Fullerton was 166th in 20:35, Cassandra Bonsall was 193rd in 21:33, Guadalupe Diaz was 224th in 22:51, Morgan Graham was 226th in 22:58 and Michaela Foster was 227th in 23:07.

Last season at the Loras College Invitational, the NIACC men placed fourth with 124 points. Imad Amenzou was the individual champion in a time of 25:49.

The NIACC women placed sixth last season with 153 points. Jessica Blumberg led the Lady Trojans with a fifth place finish with a 6K time of 23:53.

After Friday's races, the NIACC cross country teams will compete in the NJCAA Region XI championships in Mason City on Oct. 29.