Facing tough competition on Friday, the Southern Illinois cross country teams put together a pair of strong performances at the Forest Park XC Festival in St. Louis, Mo., with the men’s team earning a dual win against Saint Louis University.

Southern Illinois cross country hits the road once again, as they travel to St. Louis, Mo., for the Forest Park XC Festival on Friday.

Southern Illinois cross country opened the season at the EIU Panther Invitational on Friday in Charleston, Ill., earning a third-place finish in the men’s race and a fourth-place finish in the women’s race.

Southern Illinois Cross Country opens the 2015 campaign with a trip to Charleston, Ill., for the EIU Panther Open on Friday.

The Missouri Valley Conference has announced the men’s and women’s preseason poll, with the Southern Illinois men’s team picked to finish seventh, while the women’s team was tabbed eighth.

Saluki track and cross country senior Oscar Medina is one of 10 student-athletes that have been named a Missouri Valley Conference Leadership & Service Award recipient for the 2014-15 spring season, MVC commissioner Doug Elgin announced Tuesday.

The Saluki men's and women's cross country teams earned All-Academic team honors for the 2014 season, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Wednesday.