Frosh Kimtai & Barsaiya set course records in winning WSU Open...

COLFAX--On a clear late afternoon in the Palouse, Washington State kicked off the 2021 cross country season by hosting the WSU Open at the Colfax Golf Course Wednesday.

In what was essentially an intrasquad meet, freshmen Neema Kimtai and Brian Barsaiya won the women's 4k and men's 6k races.

Kimtai, who was 20th at the Pac-12 cross country championship meet in March, recorded a time of 13:36, just ahead of Caroline Jerotich, who was credited with the same time. Kimtai will get credit for a new course record.

Alaina Stone Boggs (13:44), Pia Richards (14:09), and Zorana Grujic (14:27) rounded out the top five for the Cougars.

Erin Mullins, who was a NCAA cross country championship qualifier for the Cougars in March, finished eighth in 14:57.

Barsaiya took the victory in the men's race, running a course record 17:32 to win by 11 seconds over Amir Ado.

Zach Stallings (17:52), Matthew Watkins (17:56), and Leif Swanson (18:16) rounded out the top five.

Washington State will remain home for its' next race, as they will host the Cougar Classic from the Colfax Golf Club on September 10th. The women's race (6k) will look to begin around 5:00 p.m. and the men (8k) will follow with a start time of 5:45 p.m. 

Results of the WSU Open are available here.

NOTE: The sports information office at Washington State University contributed to this report.

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