Matt Feldhake Wins EIU Panther Invite

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Junior Matt Feldhake won the men’s 8K at the 2010 Eastern Illinois Panther Invite on Friday evening as he paced the men’s team to a victory in the overall event. On the women’s side Olivia Klaus finished fourth as the EIU women also turned in a strong season opening effort.

The event was a double-dual scoring meet with the men picking up wins over Division I schools North Dakota and SIU Edwardsville. The men’s field also included teams from Danville Area CC, Millkin, Oakland City University and the Illinois Track and Field Club. On the women’s side North Dakota placed first in the double dual with EIU placing second. The women’s field also included Southern Illinois in addition to the teams competing on the men’s side.

Feldhake won the men’s 8K as the Panthers placed four runners in the top ten scoring positions. Feldhake posted a time of 25:39.69 to edge out Josh LeBlanc of North Dakota who finished at 25:40.67. Lucas Cherry of Southern Illinois was third.

Ryan Ballard led the next wave of EIU runners placing fourth overall with a time of 25:49.25. Jason Springer and Connor Kustief closed out the top ten finishers for EIU with Springer placing 8th at 25:59.68 and Kustief 9th at 26:04.92. Bradley LaRocque closed out the EIU top five finishers at 26:10.01.

On the women’s side Lindsay Anderson of North Dakota won the event by 24 seconds over the field crossing the 5K course in 17:41.78. Emily Toennies and Megan Hoelscher of Southern Illinois were second and third before EIU’s Klaus finished in fourth at 18:15.93.

Erika Ramos placed 8th for the Panthers at 18:39.18 with Gabriela Duenas and Brittany Arthur crossing to lead a pack of four EIU runners. Duenas was 10th at 18:42.48 with Arthur 11th at 18:55.54. Britney Whitehead and Caitlin Napoleoni closed out that close knit EIU group with Whitehead finishing 13th at 19:06.57 and Napoleoni 14th at 19:09.86.

EIU will return to action next Friday at the Illinois Intercollegiate.