Cross Country Prepares For Notre Dame Invite

Panthers to compete in ranked field

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois men’s and women’s cross country team returns to competition this Friday in the Gold Division of the Notre Dame Cross Country Invitational. The men’s team is looking for a top three while the women are looking to have their best race of the season. 

The men’s team will be led by OVC Runner of the Week, senior Brad Butler. He will be racing to beat his tenth place finish time of 26:07.40 from the Saluki Invite Sept. 27. At the SIU Invite, the Panthers had five runners place in the Top 20 for a second place team finish. 

On the women’s side Erin O’Grady and Brittney Arthur look to be top 25 finishers in the invite after their 15th and 20th place finishes from the Saluki Invite last weekend. 

“The team as a whole will be racing full steam for the first time this season,” according to EIU head coach Geoff Masanet. “The gold race is comprised of division I, II, and III teams, making it a solid race in itself.”

The gold division on the women’s side will be a strong field led by Michigan State (1st in Great Lakes rankings) and Northwestern (10th Midwest rankings). Additional ranked teams in the women’s field include IPFW (14th Great Lakes) and Illinois State (15th Midwest).

On the men’s side Eastern Washington enters the event ranked 9th in the West Region rankings. Other ranked teams competing include Oakland and Ohio, ranked 11th and 12th in the Great Lakes region.