Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University's cross country teams participated in the MVC Championship on October 18 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The women's team secured a 10th place finish out of 12 teams in the 6K race, led by Hannah Meiser who completed the race in 33rd place with a time of 21:36.6. Head coach Angelina Ramos commented on Meiser's improvement from last year's performance, stating, "Hannah Meiser's growth from finishing 76th in last year's MVC Championship to finishing 33rd in this year's event is extremely noteworthy."

The men's team finished ninth out of 11 teams in the 8K race. Weston Jokerst led the team with a personal best time of 24:33.8, placing him at 35th overall. Ramos highlighted Jokerst's achievement by saying, "Jokerst's lifetime best would have been top 15 in last year's race."

Ramos expressed pride and ambition for her team's future, noting their potential and determination: "I am an extremely competitive person, alongside the athletes on our squad," she said. "We are extremely hungry for more, and it is on me to get us there." She also remarked on the tenacity shown during the competition.

Looking ahead, Southern Illinois will prepare for the NCAA Regionals scheduled for November 15 in Peoria, Illinois.

For updates on Southern Illinois' track and field activities, fans can follow them on social media platforms X (@SIUTrackXC), Instagram (@SIUTrackXC), and Facebook (@SalukiTrackAndField).