SEMO cross country sweeps Redhawk Invite

The Southeast Missouri State cross country team showed out in their only home meet of the season on Friday, Sept. 1, at the Osage Centre.

Both the men's and women's squads placed first at the Redhawk Invite in the 4k and 6k. The Redhawks had four top-three finishes and nine top-ten finishes, as well as four runners who set new personal records.

One of those new PRs came from Hannah Eastman finished first place in the women's 4000-meter with a time of 14:06.4.

"I felt good," Eastman said, "just tried to keep it smooth the whole race, keep an even pace."

Taylor Fox finished just behind Eastman with a new PR time of 14:25.0. Layla Fleige, a Jackson alum, finished in fifth place with a time of 14:53.6. Notre Dame alum Haley Smith crossed the finish line at 16:10.9 for 24th place.

"Our team is looking really good," Eastman said. "We have a strong pack. I don't think it was everybody's perfect day but I think on a perfect day we are top of the conference right now."

Noah Little led the SEMO men with a second-place finish in the 6k.

"I felt fantastic," Little said. "I made it pretty far in the race until I started tightening up. It's way better than some other races that I've had where I've tightened up midway through the race. I was still smiling almost near the end. I just needed to go out a little earlier but that's just a strategy difference at the beginning of the season, just a learning curve."

Little finished the race in 18:39.5, which has the senior excited for the rest of the season.

"I'm super excited after that race," Little said. "I hit around the same time, maybe a little bit faster than the race last year. I think the race was a hair short last year. So I think I hit around the same time, that means I'm probably a hair faster. So it's a good sign."

Seth Gleason finished just behind Little for third place with a time of 19:01.3.

Jackson alum Cade McCadams made his Redhawk debut with a 10th place finish and a time of 19:22.8. Ryan Seabaugh, who is redshirting this fall, ran unattached and finished in 17th with a time of 19:52.8. Senior Clayton Eftink round out the local Redhawks with a 21st place finish and a time of 20:25.1.

Next up for SEMO will be the John McNichols Cross Country Invitational at Indiana State on Sept. 16.