The Eastern men’s and women’s cross country teams look ready for another season after its successful 2011 season.

Coming off an Ohio Valley Conference title, the OVC coaches named the women’s team conference favorite in a preseason poll.

“It’s awesome to be ranked number one in the OVC, but it’s important that we still work hard,” head coach Erin Howarth said.

The men’s team received high honors as well, as the OVC coaches voted the team to second in the conference behind Eastern Kentucky.

The women’s team boasts four holdovers from the championship team.

All-OVC first team members senior Erika Ramos and red-shirt senior Olivia Klaus return along with All-OVC second team members seniors Britney Whitehead and Stephanie Peisker.

Each of these runners could reach even greater heights this season, Howarth said.

“Any four of those women could definitely put forth a good effort to be the conference championship,” Howarth said. “(Amanda Sanchez is) coming back from an injury and she’s just had her first week of running, she’s looked really good.”

Freshmen Quincy Knolhoff and Victoria Quarton also look to make an impact on the women’s team.

On the men’s side, returning is sophomore Bryce Basting, who made the All-OVC team last year.

Howarth said Basting is even better this season, a scary thought for the OVC opponents.

Co-captains Danny Delaney and Ryan Ballard, both juniors, are expected to bolster the team as well.

Delaney joined Basting on the All-OVC second team last year.

Red-shirt freshman Joe Callio, junior Matt Black, and a solid group of sophomores round out the men’s team.

The biggest thing Howarth wants from this team is improvement all the way to the regional and conference championships.

“I put goals for the team every year that I want to see us get more and more competitive at the regional level,” she said. “I think this year the goal is for both teams to finish in the top 15 in the region.”

Last season, the men finished 16th at regionals and the women finished 18th.

Howarth has been focusing on teamwork, saying it’s the biggest component.

“Teamwork,” Howarth said. “I just want the team to race in groups of three or four or five (at the meet). We’re only as good as our weakest link in this sport.”

The men’s and women’s teams host the Walt Crawford Open at 4:45 p.m. on Sept. 7.

Holden Fuehne can be reached at 581-2812 or hjfuehne@eiu.edu.