Eastern Illinois cross country sent a select number of runners to compete Friday afternoon at the Illini Open at the UI Arboretum. The Panther men placed fourth among the school's that sent enough runners to post a team score. The EIU women were fifth among the school's sending enough competitors to post a team score. EIU will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships in Nashville. Michael Mest was the Panthers top finisher in the 8K event which was won by Daniel Gagne running unattached. Mest had an 8K time of 27:16.0. Austin Earp, Tyler Keen and Karson Hahn all finished in succession placing 37th, 38th and 39th. Earp's time was 28:02.7. Keen's time was 28:06.2. Hahn's 8K time was 28:12.3. Luis Davila was the final scored runner for the EIU men crossing in 42nd with a time of 28:29.5. Myles Foor and Logan Peters were the final EIU competitors. Foor had a time of 29:18.6. Peters time was 29:29.1 On the women's side the Panthers had just five runners in the field. Jocelyne Mendoza was EIU's top finisher in 27th place with a time of19:24.0 on the 5K course. Ariel Michalek of Illinois State was the women's race winner. Bri Bower was 44th with a time of 20:16.2. Shannan Supan and Caroline Collet followed each other across the finish line in 47th and 48th place. Supan's time was 20:26.3. Collet's time was 20:30.2. Cassy Shaffer was the final EIU women's runner finishing 56th with a time of 21:18.6.