Cross Country Solid At EIU Walt Crawford

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois cross country opened the 2014 season hosting the EIU Walt Crawford Open on Friday night at the Panther Trail.  The EIU women placed first among the scored NCAA Division I teams while the Panther men placed second.  It marked the first time the EIU women have won the Walt Crawford meet since the 2005 season with top five runners finishing within 17 seconds of each other.
 
Brittany Beard of IPFW won the women's 5K individual title with a time of 18:15.60 but was followed by a strong group of Eastern Illinois runners as EIU scored with runners in places 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7.  Freshman Maria Baldwin led the EIU top five runners with a time of 18:36.57 in her first collegiate appearance.  EIU's top two runners from last season Victoria Quarton and Emily Brelsfoard placed third and fourth.  Quarton posted a time of 18:42.23 while Brelsfoard crossed in a time of 18:45.38. 
 
Rachel Garippo and Julie James closed out the scoring runners for EIU.  Garippo was sixth with a time of 18:52.69.   James covered the 5K course with a time of 18:53.98. 
 
In the women's NCAA Division I scoring of the meet, EIU was first with 20 points followed by Murray State with 55, SIU Edwardsville with 98, Evansville with 103, IPFW with 107 and Missouri State with 157.
 
On the men's side Robert Murphy of Vincennes University was the 8K winner with a time of 26:05.30.  He was followed by EIU alumnus Pablo Ramirez in second at 26:16.20.  EIU's top finisher was sophomore Paxson Menard in eighth place with a time of 26:44.90.  He was followed by sophomore Riley McInerney in 11th with a time of 27:00.90. 
 
EIU's remaining top five scored runners were Brock Ramos in 14th, Joe Calio in 16th and Bruyn Yunk in 17th.  Ramos posted a time of 27:13.40.  Calio's time was 27:25.40 with Yunk just behind him in 27:25.40.
 
SIUE was the top men's squad in the scored NCAA Division I schools with 23 points.  EIU was second with 40 followed by Murray State with 86 points.  Evansville placed fourth with 107 and IPFW scored 124. 
 
EIU returns to action next Friday at the Bradley Intercollegiate.