Strong Senior Finishes Highlight Eureka’s Efforts at SLIAC Championship
GREENVILLE, Ill. – The Eureka cross country and distance team capped off their season with a strong performance at the SLIAC Outdoor Championship, sending their seniors out in style with a series of strong performances and season-best efforts.
The Red Devils put together a productive and emotional weekend, with each senior finishing their season with memorable performances.
"It's always bittersweet when we reach this point in the season," head coach Chris Robinson said. "Not only does it mark the end of our season, it also is the end of the collegiate careers for our seniors. It was so gratifying to see Emily, Rachel, Odessa, and Hayden all go out with season best times in their final races as Red Devils."
The action started on Friday evening with the combined men's and women's 10,000m race. Senior Emily Baker (Washington, Ill./Washington) put together a season-best performance, crossing the line in 53:02 to take 8th place and score for the women's team. Bailey Webster (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) followed suit, securing an All-Conference finish with a 3rd-place showing in 35:45, which was also a season-best.
On Saturday, Webster continued to impress, opening the day with a strong 5,000m race. He battled hard to finish 5th in 16:26.06, racing against several competitors who had not run the 10,000m the night before. Webster later returned for the 800m, clocking a time of 2:07.95 to finish 12th overall.
The men's team also had two athletes in the 400m, with Jose Amador (Kempton, Ill./Tri-Point) leading the way with a 57.20 finish, while Hayden Skaggs (Mansfield, Texas/Mansfield) wrapped up his Red Devil career with a season-best 1:10.43. Amador then took on the 3,000m steeplechase but was forced to drop out due to a knee injury that had been troubling him throughout the outdoor season.
For the women, the senior trio of Isabella Carbajal (Chicago, Ill./Shepard), Emily Baker, and Odessa Grove (Lewistown, Ill./Lewistown) took on the 1500m. Carbajal finished 11th in 6:32.04, followed by Baker in 12th with a time of 6:54.47. Grove closed out her collegiate career with a season-best 7:16.38 to take 14th place. Rachel Fisher (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) capped off her Red Devil career in the 800m with a strong 5th-place finish and a season-best 2:40.27.
As the season comes to a close, the Red Devils say farewell to a talented senior class. Emily, Rachel, Odessa, and Hayden all finished strong in their final races, each posting season-best times, while Carbajal led the way in the 1500m, coming just shy of her personal record. Reflecting on this senior class, Coach Robinson shared, "It has been an honor and privilege to call myself their coach these last few years. Each of them has made important contributions to this team through their performances, their sportsmanship, and the leadership they showed as we rebuild the program. They will be missed, but never forgotten."
MEN'S RESULTS
10000m: Bailey Webster – 35:45 (3rd place, All-Conference, SB)
5000m: Bailey Webster – 16:26.06 (5th place)
800m: Bailey Webster – 2:07.95 (12th place)
400m: Jose Amador – 57.20 (18th place)
400m: Hayden Skaggs – 1:10.43 (20th place, SB)
3000m Steeplechase: Jose Amador – DNF
WOMEN'S RESULTS
10000m: Emily Baker – 53:02 (8th place, SB)
1500m: Isabella Carbajal – 6:32.04 (11th place)
1500m: Emily Baker – 6:54.47 (12th place)
1500m: Odessa Grove – 7:16.38 (14th place, SB)
800m: Rachel Fisher – 2:40.27 (5th place, SB)