Cross Country Championship Preview
After two years away the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship returns to Louisville, Ky. this weekend where the SLIAC Men's and Women's Champions will be crowned. The championship will take place Saturday, October 29th at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park. The men's 8K race will be held first, going off at 10 a.m. with the women's 6K race set for 10:55 a.m. There will be an awards presentation following the conclusion of the races.
2022 SLIAC Men's Cross Country Championship Page
2022 SLIAC Women's Cross Country Championship Page
| Blackburn College BEAVERS | ||||
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Men's Team Quentin Smith will look to conclude his Beaver career with a personal best finish at the championships. He has a chance as this will be the same course where he put up a time of 29:47 in 2019 and finished 30th overall. He will be pushed by Luis Alvarado, Locke Hord, and Will Teig; all of who have times in the 35-minute range this season.
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Women's Team Blackburn's Olivia Leemon continues to be the pace setter for the team, as the top finisher in all four races this fall. She has a 5K best time of 24:19 this season and finished 24th at last year's championship. Elizabeth Morris has lowered her time in each subsequent race this season while freshman Sarah Olson will be appearing in her first championship.
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| Eureka College RED DEVILS | ||||
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Men's Team Javy Garcia was the team's top finisher last year, taking 25th place at the championships. This season he has a best time of 33:10. Two new runners for the Red Devils will look to have program-best showings with Anthony Delira and Bailey Webster each finishing under 28 minutes in their last 8K race.
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Women's Team An influx of new runners has the Red Devils looking to put together their best-ever showing at the championships. Karissa Heffernan has five top finishes this fall with a best time of 25:11 and is aiming to be the program's first-ever All-Conference runner. Rachel Fisher and Sarah Kimbro have times under the 29-minute mark this season.
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| Fontbonne University GRIFFINS | ||||
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Men's Team Fontbonne's top finishers have been rotating between Gabriel Hoekel and Dominic Mueller, as each has two top team finishes this fall. KeYonn Hall-Baker wraps up his Griffin career coming off a season-best time of 33:16 in the 8K. |
Women's Team n/a
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| Greenville University PANTHERS | ||||
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Men's Team The presumptive favorites, the Panthers are seeking their 7th straight championship. Two-time reigning SLIAC Champion Gianni Estrada has worked his way back from off-season injuries and has been the team's top finisher in each of the last two races. Several other runners could finish at the top of the list including Kaleb Carlson, Joe Gomez, Jeremiah Perry, and Adam Wellen.
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Women's Team The Panthers are led by sophomore Gretchen Carie, who has been the team's top finisher in all four races this fall. Carie has a season-best time of 24:36 and finished 6th last year. Olivia Mansfield finished just behind her last year in 8th place. Several other runners will have their eyes on All-Conference finishes including Leah Brown, Sedina Logan, Brook Schutt, and Norah Swinigan. |
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| Principia College PANTHERS | ||||
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Men's Team Principia is led by Rex Heath, a freshman that has been his team's top finisher in every race this fall. Heath has a personal best time of 26:59 in the 8K distance this fall and will be looking to become the first Panther All-Conference runner since 2019. Aaron Nutwell is the only other Panther to crack the 30-minute mark this season.
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Women's Team A young team with no seniors the Panthers have seen Geena Richards and Laura Mayo bounce back and forth between top finishes. Richards has a team-best time of 27:27 this fall while Mayo is at 28:04. Kyrstyn Ciephly is the only other Panther to test herself in a 6K distance this fall.
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| Spalding University GOLDEN EAGLES | ||||
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Men's Team Spalding has had just two runners compete this fall; Wyatt Frye and Peter McGowan. McGowan is a two-time All-Conference runner but has competed in just two races this fall. Frye has a best time of 28:06 this fall, coming two weeks ago.
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Women's Team Lexie Barthmaier is the lone Golden Eagle competing at the championships this fall. She had a season-best time of 23:15 in her last outing, cutting off over six minutes from her previous low. The junior did not run at last year's championships but did finish 19th in 2020-21.
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| Webster University GORLOKS | ||||
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Men's Team Gorlok senior Cameron Sakuma has led the way for the team this fall with four top finishes. He is coming off a team-best time of 26:40 just two weeks ago and will be looking to improve upon his 17th-place showing last year. Sam Baker cracked 28 minutes in his last race while Caleb Fletcher is coming off a season-best time of 28:05.
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Women's Team After having a three-peat stopped in 2020-21 the Gorloks claimed the program's 5th title last fall. Kyanne Williams will attempt to keep the Gorlok streak of three straight individual champions going. She is coming off a time of 23:08 in her last outing and has been the team's top finisher in each race this season. Megan Bartz, Sydney Holtz, Aissata Kamara, and Kianna Patton round out the lineup. |
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| Westminster College BLUE JAYS | ||||
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Men's Team Michael Giles has paced the team this season, as the top-finishing Blue Jay in all three of his team's races. The sophomore has finished in the 28-minute mark in all three races and placed 23rd at last year's championship. |
Women's Team n/a
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