The Kentucky cross-country team traveled to Columbia, Missouri, taking part in the Pre-National Invitational with a men’s 8K race and a women’s 6K race.

Both teams secured a top-15 finish, with the women’s team coming up in 10th place behind freshman runner Doricah Minari Isoe, who dropped a new personal record with a time of 19:55, earning a 16th-place finish.

Between 339 finishers and 38 schools represented in the invitational, the Wildcats’ top five runners finished scattered throughout the course but ultimately tallied a total score of 330.

Sophomore runner Janet Jepkemboi Amimo of Kenya was right on the tail of Minari Isoe, finishing just 11 seconds behind her and also earning a new personal record in the 6K race.

The Wildcats’ next three runners finished within 25-45 seconds of each other.

In the men’s 8K, the Wildcats tallied 314 points as a team, earning a 14th-place finish.

Sophomore Collins Kiprop Kipngok led the pack, placing 13th for the Wildcats with a time of 23:24 — nine seconds better than his 15th-place finish and 23:33 time last year on the same course in Missouri.

Ed Bird, a junior from England who individually won the Gans Creek Classic at the same course last year with a 23:07 time, came in 16th place this weekend right behind Kipngok with a 23:29 finish.

With help from freshman Eyan Turk and veterans Alex Alston and Levi Kipkurui Bachi, a strong push and finish among 268 contestants prepared the Wildcats as the season winds down and inches toward the championship and regional races.

Kentucky got its first trip to the Gans Creek course in Columbia this weekend but hopes it won’t be the last, as the Wildcats aim to return in November for the NCAA Championship races.

However, with more to accomplish to reach the big stage, Kentucky will head on a short trip south to Knoxville, Tennessee, on Friday, Oct. 31, for the SEC Championship races.