The Eastern cross country team will compete in the NCAA Regional this weekend, with the women’s race starting at noon and the men’s race at 1:15 p.m. Friday in Springfield, Mo.

Head coach Erin Howarth is extremely confident coming off the Ohio Valley Conference Championship.

“I expect both teams to compete and put forth the best performance as a team we have had all season,” Howarth said. “Everything has come together perfectly for us as injuries and illness are at a minimum.”

The men’s team finished second and the women finished third at the OVCChampionship. Bryce Basting and Pablo Ramirez both earned All-OVC first team at the meet, with Danny Delaney finishing on the second team.

On the women’s side, Olivia Klaus and Britney Whitehead made the first team while Stephanie Peisker earned a spot on the second team.

Juniors Ramirez and Delaney and sophomore Basting will lead the Panthers at the Regional. Ramirez finished fifth with a time of 4:57 at the OVC Championship.

Basting finished sixth with a time of 4:59. Junior Delaney got 14 th place with a time of 5:04.

Sophomore Victor De La Torre broke out to a 23rd place finish at the conference championship with a time of 5:09. Senior Mike Hesslau finished right behind De La Torre with a time of 5:09 for 24th. Junior Matt Black finished 27th with a time of 5:12.

The Panther women have a deep senior-laden team capable of taking the title. Klaus’s second place finish earned her a fourth All-OVC appearance. She posted a time of 5:38.2. Whitehead was right behind Klaus with a time of 5:38.3.

Peisker posted a time of 5:48 for 13th place.

Senior Erika Ramos finished 20th with a time of 5:53. Freshman KelseyHardimon should also contribute after finishing 26th with a time of 5:58. Junior Paige Biehler finished 38th at the Championship with a time of 6:03.

Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and Tulsa are the top competitiors on the men’s side.

Oklahoma State won the regionals in four of the last five years, and is ranked number one.

Eastern’s men are ranked 14th in the polls. The Panthers finished 16th last year.

The men’s regional is one of the toughest in the nation, as seven teams are ranked in the top 35 nationally. Oklahoma State is ranked number one.

Even with the stiff competition they face, coach Howarth believes in the Panthers.

“If everyone goes to the line with confidence and the ‘no fear’ attitude, we will succeed,” Howarth said.

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