CROSS COUNTRY HEADS TO BRADLEY PINK CLASSIC

Friday, October 14 2016 - Bradley Pink Classic


Women's Cross Start Line 2016
 
Eastern Illinois men's and women's cross country returns to action on Friday as the Panthers will be part of a competitive field at the Bradley "Pink" Classic in Peoria.  The Panther women will compete in the 6K Red Race with a start time of 3:30 p.m.   The men will be in the 8K Red Race slated for a 4:15 p.m. start.  Additional EIU cross country members will run as individuals in the White Races earlier in the afternoon.
 
The EIU men were ranked 15th in the USTFCCCA Midwest Regional poll as they will face four other schools that were ranked in the region.  Host Bradley was ranked 7th in the latest Midwest Region poll with Missouri, 11th, Iowa 12th and Kansas State 14th.  The field will also include Indiana which is ranked first in the Great Lakes Region, Colorado ranked 3rd in the Great Lakes Region, Lamar ranked 6th in the South Central Region and Notre Dame ranked 10th in the Great Lakes Region.  In addition to the Eastern Illinois men, Ohio Valley Conference schools Southeast Missouri and SIU Edwardsville will also be in the race.
 
The women's field will also have Eastern Illinois, SEMO and SIUE representing the OVC.  A total of ten regionally ranked teams representing four different regions of the country will be in the event.  From the Midwest Region Missouri (6th), Illinois (7th),  South Dakota (9th), Iowa (11th) and host Bradley (13th) will be competing.  Colorado is ranked first in the Mountain Region.  Indiana (4th), Toledo (10th), and Dayton (13th) will compete from the Great Lakes Region.  Lamar is ranked 13th in the South Central Region.
 
The EIU placed fifth at the Notre Dame Blue Meet in their last competition on Sept. 30 edging out ACC member Clemson.  Riley McInerney had his best race of the season placing fifth as he was joined in the top 20 by Paxson Menard (16th) and Tyler Yunk (20th).
 
The Panther women placed 8th at the Notre Dame Blue Meet as they had their top three competitors finish with a sub-18 minute time, the first time that has happened in the same race in school history. Maria Baldwin led the Panthers placing 18th while Ivy Handley and Ruth Garippo both finished in the top 40.
 
EIU will send a select group of competitors to the Illinois Invite next Friday and then compete in the Ohio Valley Conference Championships on Oct. 29 in Nashville