The University of Southern Indiana men’s and women’s cross country teams are back in action Saturday, September 29 at the Greater Louisville Classic in Louisville, Kentucky at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park.
Last year the Eagles men’s team finished second out of nine teams in the silver race led by junior Nathan Hall (Springfield, Missouri) who finished first overall out of 77 competitors while traversing the 8-kilometer course in 25:27.8.
The men’s team will sit its top nine runners for this year’s meet in preparation for the Conference Cross-Over in Romeoville, Illinois on October 6.
On the women’s side, USI finished second in the 2017 silver race led by junior Micalah Booher (Pendleton, Indiana) who finished third just ahead of her teammate, junior Ellie Tjelmeland (Springfield, Illinois) in fourth out of 45 racers on the 5-kilometer course.
USI will compete in the Blue Race division this year with GLVC members Bellarmine, Indianapolis, and Illinois-Springfield. Several Division I teams are also on the line for both squads in Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Marquette, Morehead State, and Western Kentucky. Other notable Division II members in the blue race include Ferris State, Hillsdale, Mercyhurst, and Southwest Baptist.
TAKE NOTE:
- E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park is the same course that the Eagles will run on for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships in November
- Both men’s and women’s squads made no movement in the latest USTFCCA National and Regional polls at ninth and 15th, respectfully, in the nation
- USI still remains the top-ranked GLVC team in each poll
- This is the first time this season the USI men will compete on an 8-kilometer course. They will stay at this distance of racing (equates to 4.97 miles) until the GLVC Championships where they’ll transition to a 10-kilometer race for the rest of the postseason
- This is the last week the women will race a 5-kilometer distance before making the switch to a 6K (3.73 miles) the rest of the season
- Sophomore Jennifer Comastri (Indianapolis, Indiana) finished first at the Stegemoller Classic going into the weekend
