EVANSVILLE, Ind. – After a 658-day hiatus, Indiana State cross country is set to hit the grass this Friday, Sept. 3 when they open the 2021 campaign at the Evansville Opener in Evansville, Ind.
 
AT THE STARTING LINE
Indiana State heads south to the Evansville Opener for a preview of the NCAA Great Lakes Regional course on Friday evening. The first race is slated to begin at 6 p.m. ET with the men's 8K while the women's 5K is slated to run following the conclusion of the men's race. There will be no live results for the opener.
 
658 DAYS
Friday will mark 658 days since the last time Sycamore cross country competed on the green after opting out of the 2020 Missouri Valley Conference Championship. The last competition for Sycamore cross country came at the 2019 NCAA Great Lakes Regional where the women, led by Brooke Moore, placed 24th as a team.
 
FAMILIAR FACES
The Sycamores will have a familiar face leading the charge on the women's side, as Jocelyn Quiles returns as the lone member of the third place 2019 MVC Cross Country team. During the 2019 meet, Quiles placed 17th with a 5K time of 18:55.58. On the men's side, more experience returns as Cale Kilian, Jackson Krieg, Justin Niederhaus and Wyatt Wyman all remain on the Sycamore roster from the 2019 season. Kilian placed 45th at the 2019 MVC Championships with an 8K time of 25:55.50.
 
YOUNG SYCAMORES         
The Indiana State men's cross country roster features nine Sycamore who have yet to run their first collegiate race, including six freshmen. This weekend, Negus Bogard, Wesley Beitler, Layton Hall, Logan Pietzrak, Ian Gadberry and Cael Light will make their ISU cross country debuts.
 
ON THE COURSE
In addition to the Sycamores, the Evansville Opener will play host to Evansville, Brescia (Ky.), Kentucky Wesleyan, Marquette, Oakland City, Ohio State and Vincennes. Evansville, Marquette and Ohio State will all meet ISU again in November at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
 
THE LAST TIME
Friday marks the first time since Aug. 31, 2013 that Indiana State has opened their cross country season at Evansville. In 2013, then-sophomore John Mascari claimed victory at the Evansville Mid-American Opener in 90 degree heat with a time of 18:25.93. The Sycamore men claimed victory as a team with 26 points as well, defeating Louisville (29), Evansville (73) and Oakland City (110). s
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Cross Country and Track & Field teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.