EIU Releases 2012 Cross Country Schedules

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois cross country coach Erin Howarth has released the Panthers 2012 men's and women's cross country schedules.  The EIU women are coming off one of the best seasons in school history with five athletes earning All-OVC honors as EIU won its first team title since 2001.  The EIU men placed second at the conference meet with four runners taking home All-OVC honors.

The season will open with EIU hosting the Walt Crawford Open at the Panther Trail on Friday, Sept. 7.  The women's meet will begin at 4:45 p.m. followed by the men's meet at 5:30 p.m.  The women's distance is a 5K meet while the men will run the 8K distance.

EIU will follow that up with two road meets in September.  The Panthers will compete at the Illinois Intercollegiate hosted by Illinois State on Friday, Sept. 14.  The team will then travel to the Louisville Cross Country Classic on Saturday, Sept. 29.  Louisville is the host of the NCAA Cross Country Championships this season with both meets to be held at Tom Sawyer State Park.

In October EIU is scheduled to compete at the Bradley Classic on Friday, Oct. 12th and then at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 27.  The meet this year is hosted by Jacksonville State with competition scheduled for the Oxford Lake and Recreation Center.

The NCAA Midwest Regional takes place on Friday, Nov. 9 at Missouri State.  The NCAA National Championships are set for Saturday, Nov. 17 in Louisville.

EIU is set to return six women's runners that competed for last year's OVC Championship squad.  The EIU men are slated to return five runners that competed for last year's second place OVC team.