Cross Country Puts Up Strong Performance at SLIAC Championships
LITCHFIELD, Ill. – The Eureka men's cross country team achieved a fourth-place finish, their best in program history, while three members of the women's team delivered season-best performances on Saturday at the SLIAC Championships.
Junior Bailey Webster (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) led the Eureka men with a personal record (PR) time of 27:19.37, cutting 9 seconds off his previous best in the 8k. His performance earned him an 11th overall finish and a spot on the SLIAC All-Conference Second Team.
Senior Tony DeLira (Chicago, Ill./Alcott) finished with a time of 29:11.43, placing 26th overall. Jose Amador (Kempton, Ill./Tri-Point) followed closely behind DeLira, finishing 29th overall with a PR of 29:22.58 after cutting 45 seconds off his previous best in the 8k.
Tucker Williamson (Monticello, Ill./Monticello) was the next finisher for the Red Devils, trimming 37 seconds off his best time this season for a new season-best of 31:22.78, placing 42nd overall. Michael Beaumont (Greenup, Ill./Cumberland) finished 59th overall with a time of 34:21.41, while Hayden Skaggs (Mansfield, Texas/Mansfield) achieved a PR of 41:02.28, cutting 3:07 from his previous best to finish 73rd overall.
The Eureka men placed fourth overall with 138 points, their best finish in program history, trailing only Webster, Principia, and SLIAC Conference Champions Greenville.
On the women's side, all four Red Devils competed in their final SLIAC Championship race. Rachel Fisher (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) was the first finisher for Eureka, achieving a 6k PR of 26:13.18, which secured her an 11th place overall finish and a spot on the SLIAC All-Conference Second Team. Fisher improved by 53 seconds from her previous PR.
Emily Baker (Washington, Ill./Washington) finished 31st overall with a time of 29:28.9. "Emily had a gutty performance," said Eureka head coach Chris Robinson. "She ran through a bruised bone in her knee, which caused a lot of pain. Her performance exemplifies what being a Division III student-athlete is all about – doing it for the love of the sport!"
Isabella Carbajal (Chicago, Ill./Shepard) cut 1:16 off her previous PR, finishing in 31:40.37 for a 43rd place overall finish. Odessa Grove (Lewistown, Ill./Lewistown) rounded out the field for Eureka with a season-best performance of 33:38.78, chopping 6:17 off her previous season best to finish 46th overall.
The women's team was awarded the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship Team Award after the race. Individually, Carbajal was named to the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship Team, while Skaggs represented the men's side.
"Coach Ian and I were thrilled with the performance by both teams this weekend," Robinson added after the meet. "They put in hard work all season, and it came together at the right time. Their support for each other, cheering for their competitors, and representing Eureka College positively makes us so proud. We look forward to doing it again in two weeks at the NCAA DIII Midwest Regional Meet!"
MEN'S RESULTS (8k)
Bailey Webster – 27.19.37 – PR – Second Team All-Conference
Tony DeLira – 29:11.43
Jose Amador – 29:22.58 – PR
Tucker Williamson – 31:22.78 – Season Best
Michael Beaumont – 34:21.41
Hayden Skaggs – 41:02.28 – PR
WOMEN'S RESULTS (6k)
Rachel Fisher – 26:13.18 – PR – Second Team All-Conference
Emily Baker – 29:28.9
Isabella Carbajal – 31:40.37 – PR
Odessa Grove – 33:38.78 – Season Best
UP NEXT
The Red Devils will head to Rock Island, Ill., on Saturday, Nov. 16, to compete at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championship hosted by Augustana.