With a first place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference last year, it would be easy to ease back some, but the SIUC’s men’s cross-country team has its work cut out for it this fall.

The Salukis lost a majority of their runners during the offseason, but has restocked the vacated spots with recruits, including two standout freshman Jeremy and Joseph Parks, twin brothers from just up the road in Eldorado. Joseph finished fourth and Jeremy finished 11 in the state high school meet last season.

SIUC men’s cross-country coach Bill Cornell believes his squad will make quality runs and an easy transition from high school to college.

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Most freshman have trouble making the transition from the three mile distance (in high school) to the five or six miles (in college), but I think these two will be better at the longer distances than the shorter distances, he said.

The twins said they believe they can to fill the big shoes handed to them by Cornell.

I think we’ll enjoy it (living up to expectations), Jeremy said. It gives us a better chance for the nationals later on. I think we’ll do just as well as anyone else.

Being put in this spot, we have an easier shot at the meets, and that gives us a lot of experience for down the road, Joseph said.

Joseph Parks said running just a few miles south of home is a definite advantage.

A lot of people know us here, and we’ve got a lot of

see TWINS, page 22

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