CHARLESTON, Ill. – The UIC cross country programs opened the 2022 campaign Friday (Sept. 2) afternoon, competing in the Walt Crawford Open hosted by Eastern Illinois. As a team, the UIC women finished second overall with 41 points while the men placed third (48 points). Individually, Teresa Mejia earned runner-up honors on the women's side and Dathan Maton finished seventh overall in the men's competition.
 
"This was a great start to our season with a strong group performance as we focused on being tactical throughout the race," said interim head coach Paul Zavala. "Collectively we had several athletes run personal bests today and we are excited to see our team's progress throughout the season."
 
In the women's 5k, Mejia earned runner-up honors with a time of 18:31.5. Mejia was one of four Flames to finish inside the top-10, while all five of UIC's scorers finished the course in the top 14 of the individual standings.
 
Emma Creviston, making her UIC debut, finished eighth overall with a time of 18:55.8 while Bella Dicrosta crossed the line in 19:04.7 to place 10^th overall in her collegiate debut.  Jenna Boyle came in one position behind Dicrosta with a time of 19:07.6 and Cailyn Persinger rounded out UIC's scoring with a time of 19:13.3 to finish 14^th overall.
 
Also in action for the Flames women were Rosie Campbell-Watt (16^th – 19:25.3) and Rylee Fee (32^nd – 20:30.5).
 
In the men's 8K race that followed, Dathan Maton finished seventh overall in a time of 25:50.0 and was followed just a second later by freshman Daniel Chavez in his UIC debut (8^th – 25:51.1). Make Lemke was hot on their heels, claiming 10^th place with a time of 25:52.6 and Kyle Friedler followed in 25:59.9 to finish in 11^th position. In his first collegiate race, freshman Alex Bacci rounded out the UIC scoring with an 12^th-place finish (26:01.5).
 
Luke Malone just missed scoring with a 13^th-place showing (26:09.7). Maxum Caesar (16^th – 26:16.6), Drey Maton (21^st – 26:27.5) and Owen Hassler (29^th – 26:52.2) were also in competition for the Flames Friday afternoon.
 
The Flames will be back in action Saturday, Sept. 17 at the John McNichols Invitational, hosted by Indiana State.
 
Women's Results

1. Marquette – 27pts (1-3-5-6-12 [21] [24])
2. UIC – 41pts (2-7-9-10-13 [15] [26])
3. Eastern Illinois – 54pts (4-8-11-14-17 [19] [20])
4. SIU Edwardsville – 106pts (16-18-22-23-27 [28] [31])
5. Vincennes – 154pts (25-29-30-33-37)
6. Kaskaskia College – 175pts (32-34-35-36-38 [39])

 
Men's Results

1. Indiana State – 39pts (1-5-6-9-18 [20] [25])
2. Eastern Illinois – 46pts (2-3-4-15-22 [23] [24])
3. UIC – 48pts (7-8-10-11-12 [13] [16])
4. SIU Edwardsville – 126pts (14-17-29-32-34 [37])
5. Marquette – 128pts (19-21-27-28-33 [35] [36])
6. Vincennes – 168pts (26-30-31-39-42 [43] [44])
7. Kaskaskia College – 210pts (38-40-41-45-46 [47] [48])