BEREA, Ky. – The Kentucky State women's cross country team placed eighth in the 10-team Mike and Mary Kay Johnson Invite, hosted by Berea College.

Freshman Esperance Nibitanga (Louisville, Ky.) was the first Kentucky State University runner to finish, placing 43rd with a time of 22:47.6, while classmate Timmia Crayton-Prioleau (Cleveland, Ohio) was 60th with the time of 24:19.2

Three more KSU harriers were tightly bunched with freshman Ketisa Akambasi (Buffalo, N.Y.) finishing in 26:29.5; sophomore Alaria Long (Covington, Ky.) crossing the tape in 27:30.6 and junior Gernee Lockhart (Louisville, Ky.) completing the course in 28:27.9.

Kentucky State returns to action Friday at the Mount St. Joseph Invitational at the Blue River Memorial Park in Shelbyville, Ind.