LA GRANDE, Ore. – Cross Country season is back for the Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers as they get set to host a home duel meet. Granted it is just one meet and may be the only one for the calendar year, the Mounties are back in action. EOU will welcome CCC foe College of Idaho.
WHERE
Lane Farms – La Grande, Ore.
WHEN
Friday, Nov. 6 – Women: 2:00 p.m. | Men: 2:45 p.m.
About the Meet
• Due to guidelines and regulations set by the state of Oregon due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fans and spectators will NOT be allowed to attend this year's meet.
• Commonly known as the EOU Invitational, this year's meet will be a duel. The Mountaineers have hosted this meet since 2018 out at Lane Farms.
• The first time the Mounties hosted a meet at Lane Farms was in 2017 with the CCC Preview. It was the first meet hosted in La Grande since 2006.
• The meet is slated for a 2 p.m. start with the women running first. The race is set for 3,000 meters, followed by the men running at 2:45 p.m. on a 5,000-meter course.
2020 Season Outlook
MEN
• Seven newcomers join the squad for the Mounties, five of which are true freshmen. Two transfers round out the list, highlighted by
John McMahon who was a two-time NJCAA national qualifier in two seasons at Trinidad State Junior College.
• Eight letterwinners are back for Eastern, including four runners from the 2019 NAIA National Championships qualifying squad. Only three seniors are on the 2020 squad. Returners
Chris Llanos and
Hunter Schiess, along with newcomer
Benjen Lilly, will look to guide what is a young Mountie squad.
WOMEN
• Just three freshmen join Eastern at the start of the 2020 campaign in
Jaimee Baxter,
Kaylee Cope, and
Jessica McDonald. On the flip side, there is just one senior this year in
Lisa Megargee.
• A total of 10 letterwinners are back for the EOU women and with just one senior, this group has the potential to be a formidable force in the CCC. Both Megargee and junior
Michelle Herbes will look to lead the way in 2020 with a combined five years of experience.
What to Watch For
• The Mounties have yet to hit the ground running this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but still have been putting in work. With a combination of youth and experience, both have the ability to put out quality runners.
• The men's team will bring back a handful of runners from the 2019 campaign, including the majority of the National Championship qualifying squad in
Travis Running,
Braxton Wilson,
Hunter Nichols,
Robie Swanson, and Schiess.
• On the women's side, Herbes has a chance to be the top runner after her runner-up finish at last year's CCC Championships. Along with Herbes,
Mackenzie Trainer,
Ella Coughlan, Megargee, and
Katie Jo Gebhardt will look to help the Mounties make the most of an altered 2020 season.
• All five women competed at last year's CCC Championships, as did the four men. Both squads will look to make the most of what may be the only meet of the 2020 calendar year.
• The full list of men and women set to compete on Friday are listed below.
Mountaineers in the Rankings
• Both EOU teams were represented in the NAIA preseason poll back on Oct. 1. The men were ranked No. 21, while the women were in the receiving votes at what would be the No. 28 spot.
• Having not competed ahead of the Nov. 6 meet, both squads have since fallen out of the national poll. The second set of regular season rankings will be released on Nov. 19.
• For the 2020-21 CCC Preseason Coaches' Poll, EOU was picked to finish fifth for both men and women.
Male Competitors
JP Friedrichsen
Chris Llanos
Hunter Nichols
Travis Running
Hunter Schiess
Jack Silveira
Robie Swanson
Winston Telford
Braxton Wilson
Jonathan Wind
Female Competitors
Kendra Blake
Katie Jo Gebhardt
Molly Gulden
Michelle Herbes
Jessica McDonald
Calista Van Delden
