Gans Creek Classic

Friday, September 30

Men's 8K – 9:00 a.m.

Women's 6K – 9:45 a.m.

Columbia, Missouri

THE FIELD: The Gans Creek Classic will feature SIUE, host Missouri, Illinois, Creighton, Illinois State, Cincinnati, Northern Iowa, Lipscomb,  Southern Illinois-Carbondale, South Dakota, North Dakota, Western Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Nebraska-Omaha, Weber State, North Florida, Murray State, Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas, Baylor, Eastern Washington, Iowa State, and Northwestern (women only).

LAST TIME OUT: The SIUE cross country teams last competed at the Illinois State Redbird Invite on Sep. 16.  The men placed sixth in the 8K event while the women placed eighth in the 6K run.

For the women, Kaitlyn Walker finished 32nd and was the Cougar's top runner in the 6K race in 23 minutes and 23 seconds. Chessy Nikonowicz posted a career-best time in the 6K run in 24 minutes and 20 seconds (50th).

Leading the pack for the men in the 8K race was Spencer Hielkema who placed 20th overall with a 25 minute and 46 second time. Hielkema's finish marked a personal career-best 8K time. Tyler Guthrie (26:18/36th) and Zach Walters (26:52/43rd) also posted career-best times in the 8K.

RETURNING RUNNERS: The Cougars return 16 runners (seven women, nine men) for the 2022 season.

FRESH FACES: The women welcome five incoming freshmen who will help push the pack this season in Olivia Wolf, Peyton Tieffel, Ana Keller, Kylie Eversgerd and Courtney Anthonies. Lone freshman D'Andre Watson joins the men.

UP NEXT: The Cougars will travel to Peoria, Illinois to compete in the Bradley Pink Classic on Friday, October 14.