EC Women Voted Fourth, Men Seventh, in SLIAC XC Poll

ST. LOUIS – The Eureka women's cross country team was voted to finish fourth in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason poll – three spots higher than a year ago.

On the men's side, the Red Devils were voted to finish seventh in the SLIAC for the second straight year.

The polls, which were conducted by league coaches, featured the EC women with 27 points and the EC men with 15.

In the women's poll, Greenville led the way with 42 points, including six first-place votes. Principia was next with 34, followed by Webster, which finished three points ahead of the Red Devils with 30.

Blackburn was two points behind Eureka with 25, and Westminster (14), Fontbonne (13) and Spalding (11) rounded out the rankings.

After taking a big step up in its second season since the program's relaunch, the Red Devils bring back junior captain and three-year member of the program Riley Reuter (Henry, Ill./Henry-Senachwine), along with junior transfers Karissa Heffernan (Metamora, Ill./Metamora/) and Sarah Kimbro (Peoria, Ill./Metamora) and sophomores Isabella Carbajal (Chicago, Ill./Shepard) and Odessa Grove (Lewistown, Ill./Lewistown). The team also adds a pair of freshmen in Rachel Fisher (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) and Jaden Randall (Secor, Ill./Roanoke-Benson).

Greenville also topped the field on the men's side with 42 points and six first-place votes. Webster was next with 37 points and one first-place vote. Principia (29), Fontbonne (27) and Blackburn (20) followed.

Westminster was one point ahead of Eureka with 16 points. Spalding was five points behind with 10.

Captain and three-year member of the Red Devils Javy Garcia (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) returns to lead the Red Devils. Sophomore Hayden Skaggs (Mansfield, Texas/Mansfield) also returns from last year's squad, while Lincoln transfer Tony DeLira (Chicago, Ill./Alcott) and freshmen Bailey Webster (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) and Jose Amador (Kempton, Ill./Tri-Point) join as newcomers.

Eureka's first meet will take place on Thursday, Sept. 1 when the Red Devils compete in Normal in the Titan Open.