Cross Country Teams Set To Host 29th Annual Saluki Invitational
10/09/2003 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country
Oct. 9, 2003
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - With a ranking of #12 in the Midwest Region, both the men's and women's cross country teams are set to host the 29th annual Saluki Invitational this Saturday. The two teams will look for their second wins of the season.
The Women:
The women's squad, led lone senior Noa Beitler, brings in a proven group of freshman that have helped earn the Salukis a one first and two third-place finishes so far this season. Beitler, who is 24th (18:18.78) on the all-time list, won last year's meet edging out Indiana State rival Jessica Crowder by less than a second. SIU finished fourth last year.
Freshman Lindsay Wagner raced her way into the record books three weeks ago with her time of 17:35.08 at the Eastern Illinois Panther Open. The time places her eighth all-time in SIU history - the best for any women's cross country runner since 1999. Fellow freshman Brittani Christensen sits 22nd on the all-time list with her time of 18:11.03.
The Men:
The men's team boasts a small wealth of experience in senior Doron Giat and juniors Eli Baker and Tony LaChiana. Giat pulled out the victory (25.26) at last year's Saluki Invitational, but it was not enough to boost SIU past a fourth-place finish.
Baker, a native of local Marion, Ill., finished 12th last season with a time of 26.21, but bested that mark by almost two minutes this year. LaChiana has remained steady this season running in the number five spot for SIU. He set a personal best 8-kilometer time this year at 25:53.51 and hopes to stay under twenty-six minutes for the Salukis.
The Saluki Invitational:
The 29th annual Saluki Invitational will begin with the women's 5K at 10:00 a.m., with the men's 8K race to follow at 10:45 a.m. Both races will be held at the SIU course near Abe Martin Field. Races will start just south of the baseball complex's center field wall and the cross country finish line is located just west of the first base dugout.
Other teams participating are Arkansas-Little Rock, Austin Peay, Bradley, Fontbonne University, Greenville College, Indiana State, Louisville, and Memphis. Results can be found at www.SIUSalukis.com.
Players Mentioned
