Eutectics Open 2023 at Redhawks Invite
The UHSP Men's and Women's Cross Country teams opened the 2023 season Friday evening at the Redhawk Invite hosted by Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
The NCAA Division I host school came out on top in both the men's and women's races, followed by fellow Division I team Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. The Eutectic women finished sixth of six teams in the Women's 4,000-meter race behind fellow American Midwest Conference (AMC) member Missouri Baptist University, NCAA Division II Maryville University and NJCAA Jefferson College. With only three individuals competing, the UHSP men's team did not score as a team.
Senior Alyssa McPike led the Eutectic women, finishing 48th of 63 overall and scoring at 32nd with a time of 18:32 for the 4K, averaging 7:27 minutes per mile. Abby Baxter and Sophie Eastham finished in 55th and 56th places at 20:15 and 21:46, respectively. Jaime Crites and Ajia Vigil were within 11 seconds of each other at the finish, scoring the final UHSP points in 60th and 61st places. August McWherter rounded out the Eutectic squad in 62nd.
Zach Brasel, Jeremy Smith, and Enze Hao were the three Eutectic men to compete in the 6,000-meter race. Brasel led the trio with a 49th-place finish at 25:46. Smith followed in 50th place, and Hao finished in 52nd.
Head UHSP Coach Tim Cary felt his runners showed resilience in their first competition of the season.
"I'm really happy with how well everyone competed," said Cary. "They've dealt with so much adversity over the past few months, just getting to the start line is a huge win. I'm a very proud coach."
The Eutectics will compete again in two weeks when they travel to Columbia, Mo., to take part in the Larry Young Invite hosted by Columbia College on Friday, Sept. 15.