CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri cross country will be back in action this Friday when they travel to Lebanon, Illinois, to compete in the McKendree Bearcat Cross Country Classic.
The meet is slated to begin at 3 p.m., CT with the men's 8K followed by the women's 5K at 3:45 p.m., CT. There will be two approximately 1.5-mile loops for the women's 5K and three loops for the Men's 8K with the last loop being extended.
Both races will be contested at the McKendree Bearcat Cross Country Course, 1207 College Road in Lebanon, Illinois.
SEMO will lineup in box four and compete against the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (UHSP), Kaskaskia College, Missouri St. Louis (UMSL), Missouri Baptist, Maryville, St. Charles Community College, Hannibal–LaGrange, and host, McKendree.
"We are going to use the McKendree Bearcat Cross Country Classic as an opportunity to race as a collective team group in preparation for Louisville's Live in Lou Classic [Oct. 1]," Associate Head Coach for Cross Country and Track & Field
Ryan Lane said ahead of Friday's races.
SEMO last opened the 2022 campaign at home at the Redhawks Cross Country Invitational Sept. 2.
Out of eight teams, the Redhawk women placed first in the 4K totaling 30 points with its five scorers finishing in the top nine. On the men's side, the Redhawks placed second, totaling 46 points in the 6K event. The men finished with three runners inside the top seven.
Katie Wegmann paced the way on the women's side finishing third overall in the 4K with a personal-best time of 14:25.3. The competition was her first back since suffering a season-ending injury during the 2022 indoor track season.
Wegmann, a senior from Mequon, Wisconsin, was named the Ohio Valley Conference Co-Female Runner of the Week on Sept. 6 for her season-opening performance. The OVC Female Runner of the Week honor was the second in her career at SEMO.
Taylor Fox finished in fifth place, crossing the line in 14:28.3 (PR).
Hannah Eastman (14:38.9, PR) followed in sixth to round out the top three runners for SEMO.
Madelyn Gray (14:53.9, seventh, PR),
Sarah Russom (15:12.6, ninth, PR),
Brianna Payton (15:14.7, 10th, PR) rounded out the top 10 for the women's 4K.
Freshman
Lexie Dockstader (15:19.1) finished in 12th in her Redhawks debut.
Mackenzie Pugh (15:27.0, 14th, PR),
Haley Smith (15:33.6, 16th, PR), along with freshmen
Kayla Vogelsang (15:37.5, 17th, PR) and
Alayna Sparr (16:14.7, 29th, PR) also all competed for SEMO in the women's 4K race.
Noah Little paced the Redhawk men's team. The Washington, Missouri, native, crossed the line in a career best 18:26.4 in the 6K race for third overall.
Seth Gleason followed close behind, finishing fifth with a personal-best time of 18:39.0.
Aaron Modrow finished in seventh place with a time of 18:46.2 (PR).
Terrico Garrett (18:59.2, 11th, PR) and
Justin Splitt (19:35.6, 20th, PR) rounded out the SEMO top five scorers.
Also taking part in the men's 6K race for the Redhawks was
Clayton Eftink (19:44.0, 24th, PR),
Garrett Dumke (19:47.5, 25th, PR), and freshman
Jacob Blassingame (20:09.4, 32nd, PR).
SEMO's performances at the 2022 Redhawks Invitational were its best starts to a season since 2010 for the men and 2018 for the women.
Following the McKendree Bearcat Classic, SEMO will head to Louisville, Kentucky, where they will compete in the Live in Lou Classic on Saturday, Oct. 1.
