MEN 5TH, WOMEN 8TH AT NOTRE DAME XC MEET

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Returning to action after three weeks off, Eastern Illinois men's and women's cross country picked up on their solid season at the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational Friday afternoon.

The Panther men led by senior Riley McInerney placed fifth in a competitive Gold Division field that included 24 teams.  The EIU women placed eighth of 28 teams in the Gold Division race.

McInerney had his best performance of the season as he placed fifth in the race with an 5-mile time of 24:40.8.  Fellow seniors Paxson Menard and Tyler Yunk helped propel the Panthers to a high finish as EIU edged out ACC member Clemson in the team standings. 

Menard placed 16th with a time of 25:06.4 with Yunk finishing 20th with a time of 25:11.5.  The Panthers finished ahead of OVC members Belmont and Murray State while also picking up wins over regional competitors Indiana State, Illinois State and Southern Illinois.

Chris Orlow and Greg Rogers rounded out the five scored runners for the EIU men while Robby Prescottand Juan Barajas completed the top seven finishers for the Panthers.  Orlow was 44th with a time of 25:36.7.  Rogers was 68th with a time of 25:53.0.  Prescott crossed in 111th with a time of 26:20.8 while Barajas was 132nd with a time of 26:39.2.

Junior Maria Baldwin was the EIU women's top finisher for the third straight meet this season as she covered the 5K course with a time of 17:40.1 to place 18th.  As a team EIU finished just behind Indiana State with the Sycamores in seventh.  EIU did beat OVC members Murray State and Belmont along with regional competitors Illinois State and Southern Illinois.

Ivy Handley and Ruth Garippo both finished in the top forty in the event while Rachel Garippo just missed finishing in the top fifty.  Handley was 30th with a time of 17:50.1.   Ruth Garippo was 38th with a time of 17:56.1 and Rachel Garippo was 51st with a time of 18:07.8.   It marked the first time in school history that EIU women's program had three runners finish with a sub-18 minute time in the same race.  The Panthers posted marks that ranked as the fourth, seventh and ninth fastest times in school history.

Sadie Elliott, Julie James and Jocelyne Mendoza rounded out the top seven finishers for the Panthers with Elliott the final Panther women's runner scoring points.  Elliott crossed in 110th position with a time of 18:41.0.  James was 116th with a time of 18:47.5.  Mendoza was 134th with a time of 18:58.1.

EIU will return to action in two weeks on Friday, Oct. 14 competing at the Bradley "Pink" Classic.