Cross Country Set To Open Season On Friday

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois will open its 2010 cross country season on Friday as they host the Panther Invite starting at 4:45 p.m. on the EIU Panther Trail. The women’s 5K race will be the opening event followed by a men’s 8K at 5:30 p.m. Teams scheduled to compete in the meet including EIU, Southern Illinois, SIU Edwardsville, North Dakota, Millikin, Illinois cross country club and Danville Area CC. The meet will be a dual scoring event.

The Panthers enter the year having been picked to finish second in the OVC. During their alumni 5K meet on August 28, senior Jason Springer was the men’s overall winner while sophomore Erika Ramos was the women’s top finisher. Matt Feldhake is the men’s top returning finisher from last year’s OVC Championships where he earned second team All-OVC honors. Olivia Klaus is the women’s top returning runner on the women’s side having earned second team All-OVC honors in 2009.

Following this Friday’s home meet EIU will spend the remainder of the 2010 season on the road under new head coach Erin Howarth. The Panthers return to action on Sept. 17 at the Illinois Intercollegiate. The OVC Championships will take place on Oct. 30 at Tennessee Tech