The Illinois Springfield men's indoor track & field team kicks off its 2025 season with a packed weekend in Indianapolis. The Prairie Stars will begin their season at the Gerry England Invitational on Friday, Jan. 17, hosted at the UIndy ARC. Field events will begin at 3:00 p.m. Central (4:00 p.m. Eastern), with running events set to start at 3:30 p.m. Central (4:30 p.m. Eastern). The meet will feature a mile run and 3000m run, which will be key events for the UIS men's roster.

Admission for the event is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children. Tickets are available online through gofan.co, and QR codes for ticketing will be available at the entrance.

On Saturday, Jan. 18, the team will remain in Indianapolis for the Hoosier Horsepower Classic at the Indiana Farmers Insurance Fall Creek Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, with events starting at 9:30 a.m. Central (10:30 a.m. Eastern). This will conclude a busy opening weekend for the UIS men's team as they look forward to a strong season. General admission tickets can be purchased for $10 at indianastatefair.com.

Prairie Stars to Watch This Season
Ryan Jones and Noah Tegeler both earned All-GLVC track & field honors last year, with Jones taking second in the outdoor 3,000m steeplechase and Tegeler placing third in the indoor 3,000m. Gabe Martinez, a returning star, also earned All-GLVC honors in 2023 with a third-place finish in the indoor 3,000m. Recent All-GLVC runners for the UIS men's cross country team include newcomers Isaac Cortes, and returners Briar Nevills, Joey Karlesky, and Noah Tegeler. Newcomers such as Balin Doud, Matt Padilla, and Brock Loftus are also poised to make an impact.