Southern Illinois University
NCAA Midwest Regional Championship
SIU Cross Country Wraps Up Season At NCAA Midwest Regional
11/14/2025 | 4:24:00 | Cross Country
STILLWATER, Okla. — Four Southern Illinois University runners battled high heat, steep hills and one of the deepest fields in the country Friday as the Salukis wrapped up their cross country season at the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional. Freshmen Brady Faulkner and Calen George led the men's team with strong late-race surges, junior Hannah Meiser closed out a determined comeback season, and sophomore Will Foltz was forced to step off the course in the final stages due to the extreme conditions.
Faulkner was the top SIU finisher in the men's 10K, placing 136th in 33 minutes, 45.8 seconds. He steadily moved up through the pack and ultimately finished ahead of several Missouri Valley Conference competitors who had beaten him earlier in the fall. George finished 156th in 34:09.7, also making significant gains over the second half of the race and holding his position through the final uphill stretch.
Head coach Angelina Ramos said both freshmen showed the type of progress the coaching staff has been hoping to see. "Brady and Calen proved today how much they've grown," Ramos said. "They stayed patient, trusted the plan and attacked the hills when it counted. For two freshmen to climb like that at a regional meet is huge for their future."
Foltz, one of SIU's most consistent scorers this season, was one of more than a dozen runners who did not finish due to the heat. He had been running near his usual early-race position but struggled as temperatures rose and the course's long hills took a toll. Ramos said she expects Foltz to rebound quickly. "The 10K in high heat is no joke," she said. "Will is a fighter. Today the sun won, but he'll come back indoors hungry for redemption."
In the women's 6K, Meiser placed 198th in 23:58.1 to close out a season marked by steady improvement following a March 2025 car accident that left her with a broken arm and disrupted her training. She climbed from 222nd at the 1K mark to inside the top 200 by the finish. Midway through the race, she took a hard fall and landed on the same arm she had injured, but she regrouped and pushed through the final stretch.
"Hannah showed so much heart today," Ramos said. "This race was about climbing and staying engaged, and she did exactly that. Her toughness is incredible, and this sets her up well for indoor and outdoor track."
All four athletes are expected to return next season, giving SIU a young but experienced core moving into winter training. Ramos said the group handled a demanding regional meet with composure. "This meet tested everything — heat, hills, competition — and our athletes stayed composed," she said. "The growth we saw this season is real, and we're building something solid for the future."
See the full results here.
UP NEXT
The Cross Country season has concluded, and the Southern Illinois distance runners will begin prepping for the 2025-26 Track and Field slate. View their schedule here.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For updates on the Saluki cross country and track and field programs, follow the team on X (@SalukiTrackXC), Instagram (@SIUTrackXC), and Facebook (@SalukiTrackandField).
Players Mentioned
