Friday, August 29
Savoy, IL
11 AM
Southern Illinois University
at
Fighting Illini Open
Ben Chance
Photo by: Nicole Fox
Preview | Saluki Cross Country Prepares to Open Season at Illinois
08/28/2025 | 3:47:00 | Cross Country
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Cross Country team will open its season at the Fighting Illini Invitational in Savoy, Ill., on Friday, August 29.
The women's 4K race will start at 11:00 a.m. and is followed by the men's 6K race at 11:30.
The women's team consists of eight runners:
The men's team consists of eight runners:
The faceoff at the Orange and Blue Golf Course will give SIU's class of seven freshmen a chance to hit a collegiate course for the first time.
Meiser and Bolles headline the returners on the women's side, having each recorded personal bests in 2024's MVC Championship meet.
Jokerst and Chance had similar ends to their season by reaching their peaks at the MVC Championships and look to lead the way for the men's team once again in 2025.
SIU will be joined in Savoy by host Illinois, Bradley, Illinois State and Northern Illinois.
On the upcoming season:
The Salukis will compete in three more meets before the MVC Championships, with one being the Oscar Moore Invitational in Carbondale. They will then travel to Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., for road meets before returning to Evansville for the MVC Championships. The Salukis will also run in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in Stillwater, Okla.
TRACK THE RACE
Live race results can be found here.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For the latest updates on the Salukis, follow the team on X (@SIUTrackXC), Instagram (@SIUTrackXC) and Facebook (@SalukiTrackAndField).
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The women's 4K race will start at 11:00 a.m. and is followed by the men's 6K race at 11:30.
The women's team consists of eight runners:
- Ellary Blakey (Fr.)
- Audrey Boles (Sr.)
- Brodie Denny (Jr.)
- Kyla Engel (So.)
- Savanna Franzen (Fr.)
- Riley Linville (So.)
- Hannah Meiser (Jr.)
- Allyson Niedfeldt (So.)
The men's team consists of eight runners:
- Ben Chance (So.)
- Parker Davidson (Fr.)
- Brady Faulkner (Fr.)
- Will Foltz (So.)
- Calen George (Fr.)
- Weston Jokerst (Sr.)
- Kyle Kato (Fr.)
- Drew Twyman (Fr.)
The faceoff at the Orange and Blue Golf Course will give SIU's class of seven freshmen a chance to hit a collegiate course for the first time.
Meiser and Bolles headline the returners on the women's side, having each recorded personal bests in 2024's MVC Championship meet.
Jokerst and Chance had similar ends to their season by reaching their peaks at the MVC Championships and look to lead the way for the men's team once again in 2025.
SIU will be joined in Savoy by host Illinois, Bradley, Illinois State and Northern Illinois.
On the upcoming season:
The Salukis will compete in three more meets before the MVC Championships, with one being the Oscar Moore Invitational in Carbondale. They will then travel to Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., for road meets before returning to Evansville for the MVC Championships. The Salukis will also run in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in Stillwater, Okla.
TRACK THE RACE
Live race results can be found here.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For the latest updates on the Salukis, follow the team on X (@SIUTrackXC), Instagram (@SIUTrackXC) and Facebook (@SalukiTrackAndField).
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Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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