CHARLESTON, Ill. – SIUE women's cross country Head Coach Eileen McAllister said there are improvements needed, but a handful of Cougars ran well at Friday's season opener.
SIUE placed fifth among 13 teams at the EIU Walt Crawford Open. SIU Carbondale won the women's race with 22 points followed by Eastern Illinois, Murray State, Evansville, and SIUE.
The Cougars averaged 19 minutes, 52.31 seconds, on the 5,000-meter course. In head-to-head scoring with other Division I programs, the Cougars were edged by each of the four other programs at the event.
"It was a little disappointing time-wise," said McAllister. "I think they are capable of more."
Claire Brown turned in SIUE's top time of the meet (19:07.79) for a 20th-place finish.
Brown said this year's EIU Walt Crawford meet was a little less chaotic than in 2012. Last season, the women's race was run the same time as the men's due to thunderstorms. She said she was aiming to post a time less than 19 minutes this season.
"Obviously, it wasn't quite what I wanted it to be," said Brown. "We have a ways to go."
Conradette King set a personal best by breaking the 20-minute mark for the first time in her collegiate career. She placed 38th in 19:47.62.
Emily Conlon finished 40th in a time of 19:50.16. "It was nice to see Emily back to where she was as a freshman after all of the injuries she has had," McAllister said.
Haley Briggs placed 49th in 20:09.17 and was followed by Renee Johns-Goodenough in 58th at 20:26.81 and freshman Erin Kennedy in 73rd at 21:17.10.
SIUE's next two meets will be on its home course. The Cougars play host to the SIUE CC Challenge next Friday.
"It's an advantage to be running on your own home course. Having all of the fans cheer for us really helps us," said Brown.
