Eastern Illinois men's and women's cross country will open the season on Friday evening hosting the EIU Walt Crawford Open on the newly renamed Tom Woodall Panther Trail on the Charleston campus. The women's meet will begin at 4:45 pm following by the men's race at 5:30 pm. The meet will include NCAA Division I teams from Southern Illinois, SIU Edwardsville, IPFW and host EIU. In addition the meet will include teams from Kaskaskia College, Lincoln College, Missouri Valley College, Danville Area CC, Bradley Running Club and Illinois XC/Track Club.