EC Women Picked Second, Men Fifth, in SLIAC XC Poll

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – After a historic season last fall, the Eureka women's cross country team was voted to finish second in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason poll.

On the men's side, the Red Devils were selected to finish fifth in the SLIAC.

A year ago, the Eureka men and women were voted to finish fourth and seventh, respectively, and both of coach Chris Robinson's squads exceeded expectations across the board.

The polls, which were conducted by league coaches, featured the EC women with 64 points and the EC men with 48.

In the women's poll, Greenville topped the field with 81 points and nine first-place votes. Principia tied with the Red Devils with 64 points. Fontbonne was fourth with 50 and one first-place vote, and Webster (40) and Spalding (39) followed.

SLIAC newcomers Lyon and Mississippi University for Women were next with 36 and 34 points, respectively. Westminster rounded out the poll with 11 points.

Eureka's No. 1 runner from last season, Karissa Heffernan (Metamora, Ill./Metamora/Lewis) returns and is one of 10 runners in the conference to be named to the SLIAC Preseason Watch List. The junior placed third overall at the SLAIC Championships last year, helping lead the Red Devils to a conference runner-up finish overall.

The team also returns senior and team captain Sarah Kimbro (Peoria, Ill./Metamora), junior Odessa Grove (Lewistown, Ill./Lewistown) and sophomore Jaden Randall (Secor, Ill./Roanoke-Benson). Newcomers Emily Baker (Washington, Ill./Washington), Mariah Arreguin-Quintero (Peoria, Ill./Peoria) and Jordyn Coppejans (El Paso, Ill./El Paso-Gridley) make up a trio of newcomers looking to contribute as well.

Greenville leads the way on the men's side as well, tallying 81 points and nine first-place votes.

Fontbonne was second with 65 total points and one first-place vote, with Webster third at 63 points and Principia fourth at 60.

Spalding finished eight points behind Eureka with 40 points. Behind the Golden Eagles was Lyon (28), MUW (27), Blackburn(20) and Westminster (18) to finish the poll.

The Red Devils are led by returning all-conference honorees and SLIAC Preseason Watch List members Tony DeLira  (Chicago, Ill./Alcott/Lincoln) and Bailey Webster (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria). They also return sophomore captain Jose Amador (Kempton, Ill./Tri-Point), as well as soccer standout Khalil Alleyne (Diego Marin, Trinidad/Fatima College/Lincoln) who competed for the team during the winter and spring distance seasons last year.

Alleyne will be joined by freshmen and fellow dual sport athletes, Michael Beaumont (Greenup, Ill./Cumberland), Gabriel Seeber (Champaign, Ill./Champaign Central), Ben Williamson (Monticello, Ill./Monticello) and Tucker Williamson (Monticello, Ill./Monticello). Sophomore Nigel Robinson (Eureka, Ill./Eureka) will also be looking to make his collegiate debut after being sidelined due to injury last season.

The Red Devils' 2023 season will officially begin with the Rock River Invite in Rockford on Friday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m.