Cross Country Heads To NCAA Midwest Regional

 
The EIU men's team finished the regular season ranked 15th in the NCAA Midwest Region by the USTFCCCA.  Junior Riley McInerney has led the Panthers most of the season and placed fourth at the OVC Championships with an 8K time of 24:51.7 which earned first team All-OVC.   Paxson Menard earned second team All-OVC honors with a ninth place finish while transfer Tyler Yunk just missed all-conference honors in 15th.  The other two scored runners at the OVC Championships for EIU were Joe Calio and Juan Barajas.  This will be EIU's first race at the 10K distance this season.   McInerney was the top Panthers finisher at last year's NCAA Midwest Regional with a time of 31:26 placing 84th.  The time was the 21st fastest mark for a 10K in school history.
 
The EIU women will be competing at the 6K distance for the second time this year after previously competing at the 6K Bradley Pink Classic on Oct. 16.  Maria Baldwin led the Panther women at the OVC Championships placing sixth with a time of 17:46 to earn first team All-OVC honors.  Ivy Handley earned second team All-OVC honors finishing 13th.  The other three EIU scored runners at the OVC meet were Jocelyne Mendoza, Amy Yeoman and Ruth Garippo.   Earlier this season at the Bradley Pink Classic four EIU runners – Baldwin, Handley, Rachel Garippo and Mendoza – all posted 6K times that rank in the EIU career top ten.  Baldwin had a time of 21:31 which is the second best time in school history.   Emily Brelsfoard set the EIU 6K record at last year's NCAA Midwest Regional placing 76th with a time of 21:30.