The Western Illinois cross country teams are set to compete in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Championships for the first time this Saturday. The event will take place at Morehead State in the Appalachian Mountains. The men's team will participate in an 8k race starting at 8 a.m., followed by the women's 6k race at 9 a.m. This marks the university's debut appearance at an OVC Championship, with aspirations to secure a top position.
"It's an exciting new chapter for our team, finally competing in an Ohio Valley Conference Championship. We came into the season with goals to finish in the top-3 as a team," said coach Trey Brokaw. He acknowledged challenges faced by both teams, noting, "Our men have run into some sickness as of late and our women have had an up and down season, but I believe we have a chance to reach our goals."
The men's team has consistently relied on its top five scorers throughout the year, led by junior Logan Lommel. Despite being relatively new to cross country, Lommel has shown promise alongside teammates Robert Perry and Logan Beckmier over the 8,000-meter distance.
For the women's team, there has been more variability in scoring positions throughout the season. Freshmen Meg Simmons and Lydia Bennett have emerged as key performers along with sophomore Aylana Cezar. The women aim for strong teamwork among all eight athletes to achieve their best possible result.
The men's entries include Logan Beckmier, Sean Hudspath, Logan Lommel, Isaiah Moorman, Robert Perry, and Caleb Ware. The women's entries feature Lydia Bennett, Aylana Cezar, Denise Dominguez, Kayden Gilmore, Maleigha Huston, Faith Procopio, Meg Simmons, and Hannah Steinmeyer.
Following this event is the NCAA Midwest Regionals scheduled for November 10th in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
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