Women's Cross Country Adds Five For Next Season

Eastern Illinois cross country coach Erin Howarth has announced the addition for five new runners that will join the Panthers women's program next season.   Set to run in 2020 for EIU are Mackenzie Aldridge, Caitlin Corso, Kylie Decker, Alex Gomez and Caroline Quarton.
 
Aldridge competed at Crystal Lake South HS advancing to the IHSA Class 2A State Championships as both a junior and senior.  During her senior season she placed 29th at the state meet with a 3-mile finals time of 18:03.6 which helped her school finish sixth in the state.  She was the first-place finisher at the Kaneland Regional with a winning time of 18:14.1.  As a junior she placed 19th at the state meet with a time of 17:52.9.  Her season best 3-mile time was at the Peoria Invitational with a mark of 17:25.8.  Aldridge competes in the 1,600 meter and 3,200 meter distances for track.
 
Corso competed at Belvidere North HS advancing to the IHSA Class 2A State Championships as both a junior and senior.  As a junior she placed 41st at the state meet with a time of 18:29.1, scoring points as her team won the state title.  She was seventh at the Belvidere North Regional that season.  As a senior she was 88th at the state finals with a 3-mile time of 19:06.9.  She finished eighth at the Sterling Regional.  As a track athlete Corso was a member of the 4x800 relay team that advanced to the IHSA Class 3A State Championships during her junior season.
 
Decker competed at Tolono Unity HS helping her team place in the top three at the IHSA Class 1A State Championships in all four seasons.  As a senior the team placed third at the state meet while she was 22nd with a time of 17:54.7.  She finished fourth at the St. Anthony Sectional and fifth at the Tuscola Regional as a senior.  Tolono Unity finished third in the state during her junior season as she was 45th at the state meet with a time of 18:42.8.  Decker placed 46th at the state meet as a sophomore with a time of 18:54 as she scored points for the Class 1A state championship team.   Decker placed 104th at the state meet as a freshman helping the school finish second in the state.   As a track athlete Decker was a member of the 4x800 relay team that placed 11th at the IHSA Class 2A State Championships during her junior season.
 
Gomez competed at Rock Falls HS advancing to the IHSA Class 1A State Championships for the last three seasons.  As a senior she was 159th at the state meet with a time of 20:30.3 as her team finished fifth at the state meet.  She was fifth at the Rock Falls Regional with a time of 19:10.  During her junior season, Rock Falls placed second in the state with Gomez finishing 43rd with a time of 18:40.7.  She was third at the Rock Falls Regional.  As a sophomore Gomez was 16th at the state championship with a time of 18:11.  She was the winner of the Oregon Sectional and second at the Rock Falls Regional.  As a track athlete Gomez was a member of the 4x800 relay team that advanced to the IHSA Class 1A State Championships three straight years.  As a sophomore the 4x800 team placed fourth in the state after an eighth place finish during Gomez freshman season.
 
Quarton competed at Litchfield HS advancing to the IHSA Class 1A State Championships twice in her career.  As a senior she placed 125th at the state meet with a time of 20:00.5.   She was also a state finalist as a freshman finishing 116th with a time of 20:05.  Quarton's best 3-mile time was 18:54.6 at the Shelbyville Regional.  The younger sister of former EIU cross country/track runner Victoria Quarton, she has twice advanced to the IHSA Class 1A State Championships in track.  She was a member of the 4x400 relay team as a freshman and 4x800 relay unit as a sophomore.