Webster Leads Eureka with Pair of Runner-Up Finishes at SLIAC Championships

ELSAH, Ill. – The Eureka cross country and distance team competed Saturday at the SLIAC Indoor Championships hosted by Principia, highlighted by two second-place performances from senior Bailey Webster and continued season-best efforts across the roster.

The women opened competition in the mile, where Zoe Stoecker (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) turned in a time of 7:35.02. While just shy of a personal record, Stoecker showed consistency over the final stretch of the indoor season after opening the year above the eight-minute mark and steadily lowering her time over the past four weeks.

On the men's side, Eureka placed eighth as a team, paced by a strong championship showing from Webster. Entering the mile as the No. 4 seed, Webster (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) ran an aggressive race and earned a podium finish with a second-place time of 4:35.62, securing SLIAC All-Conference honors. Cole Glover (Hopkinsville, Ky./University Heights) added to the team score with a sixth-place finish in 4:41.02. Jose Amador (Kempton, Ill./Tri-Point) recorded a season-best 5:15.87, while Evan Gillespie (Jacksonville, Ill./Jacksonville) posted a personal record of 6:14.99 in his first track season.

Webster returned later in the meet for the 3,000 meters as the No. 2 seed and in contention for an event title. After getting boxed in early, he worked his way to the front and led for a stretch before being overtaken late, finishing second in 9:16.29 for his second SLIAC All-Conference performance of the day. Webster was also named a finalist for the overall track athlete of the meet, capping a standout senior indoor campaign.

In the 800 meters, Amador closed his senior indoor season with another season-best performance, clocking 2:14.73. Glover finished in 2:17.92 after getting tangled at the start and battling back once clear of traffic.

Head coach Chris Robinson praised the team's development throughout the indoor campaign.

"Overall, Coach Kimbro, the team, and I were happy with how the team improved over the indoor season, and were excited to see the strong performances at the championship meet," Robinson said. "The team, however, is by no means satisfied. We are looking forward to a couple days of rest, and a few weeks of solid training before kicking off the outdoor season on March 21."

WOMEN'S RESULTS

Mile: Zoe Stoecker – 7:35.02

MEN'S RESULTS

Mile: Bailey Webster – 4:35.62 (2nd Place, All-Conference)
Mile: Cole Glover – 4:41.02 (6th Place)
Mile: Jose Amador – 5:15.87 (Season Best)
Mile: Evan Gillespie – 6:14.99 (PR)
800: Jose Amador – 2:14.73 (Season Best)
800: Cole Glover – 2:17.92
3000: Bailey Webster – 9:16.29 (2nd Place, All-Conference)

UP NEXT

Eureka begins its outdoor season March 21 at the Early Bird Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., hosted by Rose-Hulman.