The University of Illinois Springfield cross country teams are gearing up for a competitive outing at the John McNichols Invitational, hosted by Indiana State University on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2024.

The men's 8K is slated for 9:00 a.m. Eastern time (8:00 a.m. CT) while the women's 6K follows at 9:45 a.m Eastern time (8:45 am. CT).

Indiana State hosts the meet at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, a course that has hosted 15 national championships. The course features a challenging, yet manageable, mix of uphill and downhill sections and its simple straightaway start that stretches for nearly a kilometer before a turn.

Men's Cross Country
The UIS men's team is looking to build on its momentum from the season opener, aiming to build on its excellent five-runner spread. Led by standout runners like Isaac Cortes, who was the GLVC Runner of the Week to start the season, the Prairie Stars will focus on executing their race strategy and maintaining a strong pace throughout the 8K course. 

Women's Cross Country
 On the women's side, the UIS squad is equally motivated to make an impact. With a blend of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, the team aims to capitalize on their training efforts in the 6K race. Key performers such as recent GLVC Runner of the Week selection Madelyn Miller are expected to lead the charge, while the entire team looks to push each other towards personal bests. 

Opponents
The meet features teams from 39 universities, primarily from the Midwest. UIS will not face any GLVC opponents but will encounter teams from Illinois, including Millikin, Danville, Eastern Illinois, and Greenville, some of which recently competed at the Hy-Vee Prairie Stars Invitational hosted by UIS on September 6.

How to Follow
Unofficial live results will be available on TimingMD. The official, finalized results will be posted to TimingMD after the protest period.