Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Cross Country travels to EIU Panther Open
09/15/2005 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country
Sept. 15, 2005
By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University Cross Country team returns to action this weekend at the EIU Panther Open at Eastern Illinois University's Panther Trail in Charleston, Ill.
The Salukis dominated the EIU Panther Open in 2004 with both teams taking top honors in their respective divisions. Joe Byrne was the top individual in the men's division, running the 8K in 24:39.97 while Brittani Christensen won the women's division by running the 5K in 18:04.86.
Neither Byrne nor Christensen will be competing in the event for SIU this year. Byrne is sitting out the weekend so as to continue his training while Christiensen is sidelined due to injuries.
SIU is one of nine teams competing for the title at the EIU Panther Open this year. Other teams making the trip to Charleston include: EIU, Western Illinois University, SIU-Edwardsville, Danville Area Community College, McKendree College, Illinois Wesleyan, Millikin College, Southeastern Illinois College and Tennessee State (women only).
Though the women's team has been struggling with injuries, Saluki head coach Matt Sparks expects for the team to have a good showing at EIU.
Of the six team members going traveling to the event for the women, four finished in the top 10 while all six managed to finish in the top 15. Junior Sarah Rinker, who was forced to sit out two weeks ago at Evansville because of injuries, is the top returning Saluki as she finished third at this event last year.
"Sarah Rinker will be in her first race of the year and she is training exceptionally well," said Sparks. "She had a good outdoor track season where she qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the 5K and she is more fit now than she was last spring. So, we expect big things out of her on Saturday."
Also posting a top finish at the EIU Panther Open in 2004 was junior Lindsay Wagner. Wagner also missed out on the Evansville Early Bird because of injuries and will be making her first appearance of the season.
"Lindsay Wagner is getting a little bit stronger week after week. She is slowly working her way back up in our top five," said Sparks. "She has run really well in this meet in years past. She was our No. 1 runner at this event her freshman year and she finished fifth last year."
Also making the trip for the Salukis are Shelby Brice and Cherylynn Schilling who finished seventh and eighth, respectively, at this event last year.
Jessica Ordway and Katie Birn will also be running Saturday. Ordway finished 14th while Birn was 15th at the 2004 EIU Panther Open.
The men's team does not return as much experience but will still be looking to place well after a good showing at the Evansville Early Bird.
The senior leadership of Rob Duncan and Kyle Monroe will be key to SIU's success.
Monroe finished eighth at the Evansville Early Bird two weeks ago and posted a top-20 finish at the EIU Panther Open last year.
Duncan, who also finished in the top 20 at the 2004 EIU Panther Open, finished just 14 seconds behind Monroe in Evansville to finish 11th.
Sparks is also looking at the team's freshmen to step up and take a big role on the team.
"Still looking for the freshmen, especially Brad Pirok, to step up. He was a great high school runner, but adjusting to the 8K in college takes some time," said Sparks.
Freshman Mark Bowman, sophomore Jason Brosseau and junior Tom Gentry will also be making the trip to Charleston.
The men will be running an 8K beginning at 9:45 a.m. while the women are running a 5K that will start at 10:30 a.m.
