Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
City Auto Memphis Twilight
Saluki Cross Country Has Strong Showing at Memphis Twilight
09/06/2026 | 11:00:00 | Cross Country
MEMPHIS, TN. — Southern Illinois cross country opened its 2026 campaign Saturday night at the City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic, with the women's team finishing seventh and the men's team placing eighth.
The Saluki men finished eighth out of 20 teams, highlighted by a strong pack that posted a 50-second differential between SIU's first and fifth runners.
Calen George led the Salukis, finishing 23rd overall in 20:17.46. Ben Chance followed in 30th at 20:26.82, and Brady Faulkner placed 35th in 20:34.67.
Men's results
- 23rd – Calen George – 20:17.46
- 30th – Ben Chance – 20:26.82
- 35th – Brady Faulkner – 20:34.67
- 52nd – Will Foltz – 20:58.51
- 63rd – Drew Twyman – 21:07.01
- 98th – Mark Rozhon – 22:08.82
- 103rd – Mason King – 22:18.13
- 120th – Maxx Haas – 22:52.90
Rozhon and King rounded out Southern Illinois' top seven after running together for much of the race.
Head coach Angelina Ramos was encouraged by the men's pack running in the season opener.
"If the men pack up like that all season and keep that pack differential under 55 seconds, they can take a huge jump from last year, and that's exciting," Ramos said.
Ramos also singled out Drew Twyman.
"Drew Twyman stole the show with impressive form after putting in a year of work and with how he raced tonight," Ramos said.
"Calen George led the Saluki charge tonight," Ramos added.
The Southern Illinois women finished seventh out of 18 teams in a strong season-opening performance.
Hannah Meiser paced the Salukis with a 25th-place finish in 18:32.41 — her fastest season-opening time in either college or high school by 28 seconds.
"Hannah Meiser led the charge tonight, finishing 28 seconds faster than any previous season opener she's ever raced collegiately or in high school, which bodes well for the rest of the season," Ramos said.
Women's results
- 25th – Hannah Meiser – 18:32.41
- 41st – Jaylee Duncan – 19:09.60
- 45th – Riley Linville – 19:12.80
- 57th – Savanna Franzen – 19:27.97
- 73rd – Carryn Sattler – 19:50.78
- 76th – Layla Janisch – 19:54.51
- 77th – Ellary Blakey – 19:55.27
- 100th – Ally Niedfeldt – 20:35.19
- 112th – Eislee Moore – 20:48.58
The women's race featured strong contributions from SIU's freshmen. True freshmen Jaylee Duncan and Carryn Sattler both finished among the team's top five, while Layla Janisch gave the Salukis three true freshmen among their first six finishers.
"The women put two true freshmen in the top five and three true freshmen in the top six," Ramos said. "It was a very competitive and impressive showing for freshmen Jaylee Duncan, Carryn Sattler and Layla Janisch."
For all three, Saturday's race marked their best cross country season opener.
The twilight setting also presented a new racing environment for several Salukis competing in a night meet for the first time.
With a seventh-place finish for the women, tight pack running from the men, an improved opener from Meiser and immediate contributions from several freshmen, Southern Illinois left Memphis with an encouraging start to the 2026 season.
UP NEXT
The Salukis continue their season Sept. 18 in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
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