Cross Country Set To Host Panther Open

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men’s and women’s cross country will open their regular-season of competition on Friday evening when they host the EIU Panther Open at the Panther Trail on campus.

The women’s 5K race will start at 5:30 p.m. with the men’s 8K race slated for a 6:15 p.m. start time.

Teams scheduled to appear at the meet include Ohio Valley Conference members Southeast Missouri and SIU Edwardsville along with SIU Carbondale, Evansville, Western Illinois, McKendree and Danville Area CC.

 

Last year’s Panther open champions were Jeff Schirmer of Southern Illinois winning the men’s 8K with a time of 25:12. Juli Koenegstein of Southeast Missouri was the women’s champion of the 5K with a time of 17:51.

 

The EIU men placed second in the team standings last year with Ryan Hoklas the top men’s performer in 14th place. The Panther women placed fourth with Erin O’Grady the top finisher in 8th place.