Posted: Aug 23, 2022

Greenville Men Picked to Repeat in Cross Country

Greenville University's hold over Men's Cross Country in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is expected to continue this fall as they received six first-place votes and 42 total points from the coaches to finish 1st in the preseason poll. The Panthers have won six straight titles and two-time SLIAC individual champion Gianni Estrada heads up the list of returners for coach Brian Patton. Estrada will be looking to become just the second runner in conference history to capture three consecutive titles. He had a season-best time last year of 25:24 to pace the Panthers. Also back are fellow sophomores and All-Conference runners Joe Gomez, Jeremiah Perry, and Tony Lakotich. Kaleb Carlson is back for his senior year and will be looking to best his time of 25:51. The depth for the team continues with juniors Isaiah Atkins and Josh Medlin as well as freshman Drake Rutledge.

Webster University comes in 2nd on the poll with 37 total points, picking up one first-place vote. First-year head coach Kyle Robinson has some experienced runners to rely on. Kaelin Triggs was an All-Conference performer last year and finished among the top three runners for the Gorloks in all six meets last season with a best time of 26:55. Cameron Sakuma and Sam Baker each recorded season-best times in the 27-minute range last year while Christian Gray and Caleb Fletcher complete the list of returners.

Principia College finished 3rd in the voting with 29 points. The Panthers are coached by Nick Barron and will feature a pair of seniors on a roster full of underclassmen. Those seniors are Boone Steele, who was the top Panther runner in all five meets he ran in last year and Spencer Christensen. A trio of sophomores in Charles Gatobu, Donbosco Ngeso, and Tobin Blair picked up valuable experience last year and are expected to continue their growth. Freshmen Rex Heath and Aaron Nutwell will give the team some depth and come in having been a part of a state championship team last year in high school.

With 27 points, Fontbonne University was chosen 4th. Head Coach Phillip Halley has brought in several new faces to go along with seniors KeYonn Hall-Baker and Ian Cordell. Hall-Baker was his team's top runner four times last year and had a season-best time of 34:04 at the conference championship. New to the team are Gabriel Hoekel, Dominic Mueller, and Christopher Strange.

Blackburn College totaled 20 points. The Beavers are coached by Al Sturgeon and will lean on the experience of Quentin Smith. A long-time captain Smith was the Beaver's top runner in all five meets last fall, posting a best time of 33:15. Juniors Locke Hord and Will Killion will look to improve upon their performances last season while newcomers Luis Alvarado, Cody Moore, Jarrett Reed, and Montreal Thomas give the team depth.

Westminster College finished with 16 points. Head Coach Tyler Yunk continues to build the program and returns a pair of sophomores that competed in last year's conference championship in Michael Giles and Lane Martin. Freshmen joining the program are Kerrick Adkins, Ayden Carr, and Korte Lucas.

Placing 7th on the poll with 15 points was Eureka College. Team captain Javier Garcia returns and will look to get his career-best time under 30-minutes this season. Also returning from last year's squad is sophomore Hayden Skaggs. Transfer Tony DeLira will push for the front of the team pack while freshmen Bailey Webster and Jose Amador fill out the roster.

Wrapping up the voting with 10 points is Spalding University. Peter McGowan is the lone returner for the Golden Eagles. The sophomore finished in the top three for his team in all seven meets season with a best time of 27:37 to close out the season at the regionals meet.