Glover, Webster Lead Eureka to Historic Day at SLIAC Championships
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Eureka cross country teams delivered a historic day at the 2025 SLIAC Championship Meet on Saturday, highlighted by multiple personal bests, all-conference honors, and several program firsts.
Freshman Cole Glover (Hopkinsville, Ky./University Heights) continued his standout season, finishing second overall with a time of 26:53.50, the best individual finish in program history. Glover's performance earned him First Team All-Conference honors and capped a thrilling duel for the top spot with Greenville's Kaden Einhorn, finishing just over two seconds apart.
Senior Bailey Webster (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) joined Glover on the All-Conference First Team, placing eighth overall with a season-best time of 27:23.96, giving Eureka two top-eight finishers for the first time ever.
Senior Jose Amador (Kempton, Ill./Tri-Point) added a season-best 32:26.99 to round out another strong showing. Michael Beaumont (Greenup, Ill./Cumberland) continued his consistent form, clocking a season-best 33:04.89, while Britton Batson (Springfield, Tenn./Innovation Academy of Robertson County) shaved 39 seconds off his previous mark with a personal record of 33:49.19.
Freshman Evan Gillespie (Jacksonville, Ill./Jacksonville) capped his season with another milestone, running a personal-record 36:23.36, cutting more than a minute off his previous best and finishing the season running a faster pace in the 8K than he did in a 7K earlier this fall. He also earned a spot on the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
On the women's side, junior Zoe Stoecker (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) turned in a massive breakthrough, posting a personal-record 31:05.53 in the 6K, an improvement of more than four and a half minutes over her previous best. Her performance earned her a place on the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship Team and capped a season of remarkable progress after returning to cross country for the first time since eighth grade.
With multiple personal bests and a pair of All-Conference finishers leading the way, the Red Devils left St. Louis with confidence and momentum heading into the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championship in two weeks.
WOMEN'S RESULTS (6K)
Zoe Stoecker – 31:05.53 – PR – All-Sportsmanship Team
MEN'S RESULTS (8K)
Cole Glover – 26:53.50 – 2nd overall – PR – 1st Team All-Conference
Bailey Webster – 27:23.96 – 8th overall – Season Best – 1st Team All-Conference
Jose Amador – 32:26.99 – 35th overall – Season Best
Michael Beaumont – 33:04.89 – 38th overall – Season Best
Britton Batson – 33:49.19 – 44th overall – PR
Evan Gillespie – 36:23.36 – 57th overall – PR – All-Sportsmanship Team
UP NEXT
Eureka will return to action at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championship in on Saturday, Nov. 15, in Waverly, Iowa.