CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The SIUE cross country teams opened the 2026 season at the SEMO Redhawk Invitational, with both the men's and women's teams earning second-place finishes.
While the meet was originally scheduled to feature 5-kilometer races for both teams, potentially unsafe running conditions caused by extreme heat forced the races to be delayed by 30 minutes with a shortened distance. The men's race was also shortened to 4K, while the women's race was shortened to 3K.
AJ Ince led the Cougars on the men's side, placing ninth overall with a time of 12:58.5 in the 4K.
Also competing for the men were freshman
Christian Knobloch (10th, 12:59.4),
Jack Willenborg (13:24.9),
Aaron Conderman (16th, 13:34.6),
Auggie Gaudio (21st, 13:56.8),
Nate Wright (23rd, 14:30.9),
Wyatt Doyle (24th, 14:40.4) and
Cullen Krieg (27th, 15:26.7).
Erica Woodard led the Cougars on the women's side, placing fifth overall with a time of 11:04.1 in the 3K.
Woodard was followed by
Julie Bach (sixth, 11:10.2),
Ashley Zeibert (ninth, 11:27.7),
Emilee Franklin (11th, 11:40.8),
Sophia Ramirez (13th, 11:42.2),
Katelyn Thurman (14th, 11:45.3),
Kaylee Sprague (18th, 11:56.9),
Ella Sager (22nd, 12:12.5),
Mia Loafman (24th, 12:23.0),
Arianna Neisen (26th, 12:52.7),
Lexi Kampwerth (28th, 13:34.3) and Kate Soderland (29th, 13:39.7).
The Cougars will now prepare for their lone home meet of the season, the Cougar XC Challenge, which will take place Sept. 18.
