EVANSVILLE, Ind. – With the season opener and a week of practice under their belts, the University of Evansville cross country teams head north to Charleston, Ill. for the EIU Walt Crawford Open.
 
The women take to the course to run their 5K event at 4:45 p.m. before the men are set to run 8 kilometers beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the EIU Panther Trail.
 
Schools slated to participate include: Eastern Illinois, Evansville, IPFW, Missouri State (Women), Murray State, SIU Edwardsville - dual scoring for NCAA Division I teams.  Other schools competing include: Lincoln College, Vincennes University, Freed-Hardeman, Kaskaskia College, Benedictine University at Springfield, Missouri Valley College, Lindenwood University - Belleville, Danville Area CC and Illinois Track/CC Club.
 
Last weekend, both teams opened up the season at the Belmont Opener in Nashville, Tenn.  While the men's results are official, they are still finalizing the places for the UE women.  Leading the way last weekend for the ladies was Elizabeth Kingshott.  She ran the 5K course in a time of 19:51.72 to take 61^st place out of 121 runners.
 
Just behind her was Alyssa Moran, who was just over a second off of Kingshott's pace, coming in 62^nd place with a 19:53.19.  Kirsten Perrey was third on the Aces list, taking 71^st on the cusp of her 20:21.56.  Rounding out the top five for Evansville was Loran Oboikovitz and Sophie Etienne.
 
The men were led by Josh Genet, who ran his 5K race in 16:45.35 to take 52^nd out of 113 runners.  Matt Hamilton returned to action in the opener following an injury last season.  He was second for the Aces, coming home 57^th with a 16:59.33.  Benjamin Woolems was third on the Aces with a 17:36.18 while Matthew Spencer and Ross Frondorf rounded out Evansville's first five runners.
 
Following the trip to Charleston, the Aces will have an off week prior to running in the Indiana Intercollegiate on Sept. 19.  Purdue will host the event this year in West Lafayette.