Panthers return 15 of 16 runners from last year's OVC meets
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – In a preseason vote of head cross country coaches in the Ohio Valley Conference the Eastern Kentucky men's and women's teams were picked as the favorites for the 2015 season. Eastern Illinois was picked to finish second in both polls as the Panthers return a good portion of both squads that competed at last year's OVC Championships.
On the women's side EIU placed second at last year's OVC Championship with Maria Baldwinearning OVC Freshman of the Year honors. Three runners – Baldwin, Victoria Quarton and Emily Brelsfoard – all earned second team All-OVC honors at the championship meet. In addition to those three All-OVC runners the Panther women return Ivy Handley, Julie James, Rachel Garippo,Kristen Rohrer and Quincy Knolhoff that all competed at the OVC Championships.
On the men's side EIU placed fifth last year with a young squad. EIU returns juniors Riley McInerney, Paxson Menard and Joe Calio that were the Panthers top three finishers as last year's meet. As a freshman in 2013 McInerney earned second team All-OVC honors. In addition EIU returns Derrick Johnson, Mark Pedziwaitr, Lucas Nudelman and Brock Ramos from last year's championship meet team. On men's side head coach Erin Howarth added several transfers that could make an immediate impact this season.
EIU opens the season on Friday, Sept. 4 hosting the EIU Walt Crawford Open.
Last season the EKU men's team claimed its 23rd OVC championship and ninth in a row while the EKU women's program took home its 28th all-time title at the event held in Oxford, Alabama.
On the men's side Eastern Kentucky (121 points, 11 first-place votes) was followed by Eastern Illinois (97), Belmont (91), Tennessee Tech (85, 1 first-place vote), SIUE (83), Morehead State (81), Southeast Missouri (72), Murray State (46), Austin Peay (43), UT Martin (35), Jacksonville State (26) and Tennessee State (12).
On the women's side Eastern Kentucky (119 points, 10 first-place votes) was followed by Eastern Illinois (110, 1 first-place votes), Belmont (103, 1 first-place vote), Murray State (87), Southeast Missouri (75), Morehead State (62), SIUE and Tennessee Tech (57 apiece), Austin Peay (52), Jacksonville State and UT Martin (29 apiece) and Tennessee State (12).
The 2015 Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championships will be held October 31 at the Miller Memorial Golf Course in Murray, Kentucky. It marks the first time the championship has been there since 2003. The first regular season meets of the 2015 season occur on September 4-5.
2015 OVC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
TEAM POINTS
1. Eastern Kentucky (11 first-place votes) 121
2. Eastern Illinois 97
3. Belmont 91
4. Tennessee Tech (1) 85
5. SIUE 83
6. Morehead State 81
7. Southeast Missouri 72
8. Murray State 46
9. Austin Peay 43
10. UT Martin 35
11. Jacksonville State 26
12. Tennessee State 12
(Teams awarded 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)
2015 OVC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
TEAM POINTS
1. Eastern Kentucky (10 first-place votes) 119
2. Eastern Illinois (1) 110
3. Belmont (1) 103
4. Murray State 87
5. Southeast Missouri 75
6. Morehead State 62
7. SIUE 57
Tennessee Tech 57
9. Austin Peay 52
10. Jacksonville State 29
UT Martin 29
12. Tennessee State 12
(Teams awarded 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)
On the women's side EIU placed second at last year's OVC Championship with Maria Baldwinearning OVC Freshman of the Year honors. Three runners – Baldwin, Victoria Quarton and Emily Brelsfoard – all earned second team All-OVC honors at the championship meet. In addition to those three All-OVC runners the Panther women return Ivy Handley, Julie James, Rachel Garippo,Kristen Rohrer and Quincy Knolhoff that all competed at the OVC Championships.
On the men's side EIU placed fifth last year with a young squad. EIU returns juniors Riley McInerney, Paxson Menard and Joe Calio that were the Panthers top three finishers as last year's meet. As a freshman in 2013 McInerney earned second team All-OVC honors. In addition EIU returns Derrick Johnson, Mark Pedziwaitr, Lucas Nudelman and Brock Ramos from last year's championship meet team. On men's side head coach Erin Howarth added several transfers that could make an immediate impact this season.
EIU opens the season on Friday, Sept. 4 hosting the EIU Walt Crawford Open.
Last season the EKU men's team claimed its 23rd OVC championship and ninth in a row while the EKU women's program took home its 28th all-time title at the event held in Oxford, Alabama.
On the men's side Eastern Kentucky (121 points, 11 first-place votes) was followed by Eastern Illinois (97), Belmont (91), Tennessee Tech (85, 1 first-place vote), SIUE (83), Morehead State (81), Southeast Missouri (72), Murray State (46), Austin Peay (43), UT Martin (35), Jacksonville State (26) and Tennessee State (12).
On the women's side Eastern Kentucky (119 points, 10 first-place votes) was followed by Eastern Illinois (110, 1 first-place votes), Belmont (103, 1 first-place vote), Murray State (87), Southeast Missouri (75), Morehead State (62), SIUE and Tennessee Tech (57 apiece), Austin Peay (52), Jacksonville State and UT Martin (29 apiece) and Tennessee State (12).
The 2015 Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championships will be held October 31 at the Miller Memorial Golf Course in Murray, Kentucky. It marks the first time the championship has been there since 2003. The first regular season meets of the 2015 season occur on September 4-5.
2015 OVC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
TEAM POINTS
1. Eastern Kentucky (11 first-place votes) 121
2. Eastern Illinois 97
3. Belmont 91
4. Tennessee Tech (1) 85
5. SIUE 83
6. Morehead State 81
7. Southeast Missouri 72
8. Murray State 46
9. Austin Peay 43
10. UT Martin 35
11. Jacksonville State 26
12. Tennessee State 12
(Teams awarded 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)
2015 OVC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
TEAM POINTS
1. Eastern Kentucky (10 first-place votes) 119
2. Eastern Illinois (1) 110
3. Belmont (1) 103
4. Murray State 87
5. Southeast Missouri 75
6. Morehead State 62
7. SIUE 57
Tennessee Tech 57
9. Austin Peay 52
10. Jacksonville State 29
UT Martin 29
12. Tennessee State 12
(Teams awarded 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)