The season will continue for the Eastern men’s and women’s cross country teams as they compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday. 

The men’s team is coming off their second-straight OVC Championship on Oct. 30. 

Eastern had the top two individual finishers in OVC Championship with Dustin Hatfield winning and Jaime Marcos finishing second. 

Hatfield was also given OVC Runner of the Year honors after a season in which he shattered the Eastern record in the 8K with a time of 23:28.2 and also posted the fourth best time in school history later in the season.

Hatfield and Marcos were named first team All-OVC while Trevor Murphy, Franky Romano, Richie Jacobo and Adam Swanson were given second team honors.

The women’s team finished third at the OVC Championships, but like the men, had the top two individual finishers. 

Lindsey Carlson placed first, capping of a season that earned her OVC Runner of the Year honors. 

Kate Bushue placed second and earned first team All-OVC honors with Carlson while Avani Flanagan, who finished 14th, picked up second team honors. 

The men’s team will be one of 31 teams in the Regional while the women’s team will be one of 34. 

The top two teams automatically qualify for NCAA National Championships while the top 25 individual finishers on each side will get All-Region honors. 

The women will run a 6K starting at 11 a.m. 

Carlson set an Eastern record in the 6K at the Bradley “Pink” Classic Oct. 15, posting a time of 21:03.5. 

The men will follow at noon with a 10K. 

Adam Tumino can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].