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** During the month of July, EIUPanthers.com will take a look back at 13 events, moments and players that helped shape the 2021-22 academic year. **

Eastern Illinois men's cross country made it back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Championships as the Panther men won the 2021 OVC Cross Country Championship in a tightly contested championship race at the Percy Warner Park in Nashville in late October.

Dustin Hatfield was the men's individual champion winning with an 8K time of 24:31.5.  Hatfield was followed by teammate Jaime Marcos in second with a time of 24:49.1 as the Panthers had six runners earn All-OVC honors.

On the men's side EIU won with 35 points to claim their ninth OVC crown.  Belmont was second with 39 points followed by Tennessee Tech in third with 88 points. 

Following Hatfield and Marcos in the top two spots, EIU had four other runners place in the top 14 to earn All-OVC honors.   Trevor Murphy, Franky Romano, Richie Jacobo and Adam Swanson all earned second team All-OVC honors.  Murphy was ninth with a time of 25:20.3.  Romano was 11th with a time of 25:25.1.  Jacobo was 12th with a time of 25:28.0.  Swanson was 14th with a time of 25:40.1. 


Men's Awards
Athlete of the Year: Dustin Hatfield, Eastern Illinois
Athlete of the Championship: Dustin Hatfield, Eastern Illinois
Coach of the Year: Erin Howarth, Eastern Illinois

All-OVC First Team
Dustin Hatfield, Eastern Illinois
Jaime Marcos, Eastern Illinois

All-OVC Second Team
Trevor Murphy, Eastern Illinois
Franky Romano, Eastern Illinois
Richie Jacobo, Eastern Illinois
Adam Swanson, Eastern Illinois
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2021-22 EIU Athletics Year In Review
No. 13 - Lauren Doyle Makes Second Olympic Appearance
No. 12 - Bob Thomas Named to CSCAA Top 100 College Swimmers List
No. 11 – EIU Adds Beach Volleyball As 21st Intercollegiate Sport
No. 10 – EIU Hires New Head Coaches 
No. 9 – Dustin Hatfield Competes In NCAA Cross Country National Championship
No. 8 – Baseball Posts Most Wins Since 1999 Season