Panthers coming off season opening win in EIU Walt Crawford Open
EIU will face a strong field at the ISU Invite with Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois State and Loyola-Chicago all regionally ranked in the preseason USTFCCCA polls. On the women's side Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois State were all ranked in the preseason regional poll.
The men's and women's teams are both coming off first place finishes at the EIU Walt Crawford Open last weekend. Maria Baldwin won the women's 5K event with a time of 18:03.48. She was the first EIU women's runner to win EIU's home race since the 2002 season. On the men's sideRiley McInerney won a shortened 4-mile event with a time of 20:05.06.
The EIU women had six runners place in the top ten as they beat teams from IPFW, Southern Illinois and SIU Edwardsville. Ivy Handley was third in the event followed by Emily Brelsfoard in fourth. Amy Yeoman placed sixth and was followed by teammates Victoria Quarton and Quincy Knolhoff.
On the men's side Paxson Menard finished second behind McInerney as EIU beat teams from IPFW, Southern Illinois and SIU Edwardsville. Greg Rogers placed seventh to post the Panthers other top ten finisher at the home event.
Following Friday night's race EIU will return to action on Friday, Oct. 2 at the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind.