The Eastern women’s and men’s cross country teams are back in action Friday at the Louisville Classic after being off for a little more than three weeks.

The men’s race will start first at 8:30 a.m. Friday at the Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville, Ky. The women’s race begins at 9:15 a.m.

Both the Eastern men and women will be competing against nationally ranked opponents. The Eastern women go up against 15 teams that ranked in the top-15 in their region in a field of 35 schools. The Panthers will race against three top-30 teams ranked in the country in No. 16 Wisconsin, No. 23 West Virginia and No. 28 Virginia Tech.

The men’s field includes 12 teams that are currently ranked in the top-15 in their respective region. The field includes two nationally ranked teams in No. 11 Wisconsin and No. 23 Eastern Kentucky.

A pair of sophomores in Paxson Menard and Riley McInerney has led the Eastern men’s team this season.

Menard has posted two top-10 finishes at the EIU Walt Crawford and the Bradley Intercollegiate. His best 8K time this season is 25:06.2 at the Bradley meet on Sept. 12. McInerney was seventh in the Panthers last meet at Bradley after an 11th-place finish at the EIU Walt Crawford.

Four runners that include three underclassmen lead the women’s team for Eastern. Freshman Maria Baldwin was the top finisher in the first two events for the Panthers, finishing second and third overall at the Eastern meet and the Bradley meet, respectively.

Junior Victoria Quarton has a pair of top-five finishes, while sophomore Emily Brelsfoard has been fourth and sixth in the opening two meets. Fellow sophomore Julie Jones has been the Panthers’ fourth best runner in the first two meets, placing in the top-10 in both events.

Both cross country teams will race at the Bradley Classic on Oct. 17 in Peoria, following Friday’s meet.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or asoto2@eiu.edu.