Both the men’s and women’s cross-country team competed at the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference Championship at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. 

Eastern’s head coach Erin Howarth was named the OVC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, resulting in it being her second time winning this award in her EIU career. 

Jaime Marcos was the top runner for the men’s team, finishing in seventh place on the 8k course to earn First Team All-OVC honors, posting a time of 25:11.4. 

The women’s team placed second overall scoring 60 points, only six points away from first place. 

Grace Rowan finished in second place in the race, earning First Team All-OVC honors. She had a time of 17:52.1 on the 5K course resulting in having the best finish for the women’s team. 

Shelby Siltman placed 12th with a time of 18:23.4, which caused her to be the third Eastern women’s runner to earn All-OVC honors. 

Avani Flanagan was seventh in the meet with a time of 18:05.07, placing in first team honors. 

Helena Keenan and Maggie McPherson placed in the top five EIU scored runners, and Megan Adams finished in sixth. McPherson was 18th with a time of 18:41.3. Keenan was 21st with a time of 18:46.8. Adams finished in 22nd with a time of 18:47.9. 

The men’s team posted their best finish since the 2011 season. The team placed in third place scoring 74 points, only 19 points behind Eastern Kentucky in second. 

Tyler Lay and Franky Romano also placed on Second Team All-OVC honors. Lay finished in 11th with a time of 25:25.6. Romano was 13th with a time of 25:30.6. 

Adam Swanson and David Thompson were the fourth and fifth scored runners for the Panthers. Swanson was 23rd with a time of 25:39.5. Thompson was 24th with a time of 25:42.5. Andrew Pilat was 28th with a time of 25:50.09. Nick Oakley was 29th with a time of 25:56.6. 

The Panthers will participate at the NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Oklahoma State Nov 15. 

Bailey Scoggins can be reached at 581-2812 or bsscoggins@eiu.edu.