The University of Illinois Springfield men's cross country team faced a competitive field at the John McNichols Invitational on Saturday, finishing 10th overall with a score of 352 points.
Race Summary
- Zach Panek led the Prairie Stars, crossing the finish line first for the team in 58th place with a time of 25:21
- Panek was closely followed by Briar Nevills, who finished 61st in 25:26
- Isaac Cortes and Ryan Jones also made significant contributions, finishing in 88th and 94th with times of 25:41 and 25:42, respectively
- Sophomore Joey Karlesky rounded out the scoring in 99th place, running 25:44 for 8k
- The Prairie Stars once again proved their ability to keep a tight five-runner spread, this time keeping the gap to 23 seconds
- UIS finished 10th overall and ranked 8th among non-DI teams
- UIS was the only NCAA DII team in a field of primarily NCAA DIII and NAIA opponents. Wartburg, U. of Chicago, and North Central are top-15 teams from the 2023 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships
| Place | Student-Athlete | Result |
| 58 | Zach Panek | 25:21 |
| 61 | Briar Nevills | 25:26 |
| 88 | Isaac Cortes | 25:41 |
| 94 | Ryan Jones | 25:42 |
| 99 | Joey Karlesky | 25:44 |
| 151 | Brendan Cairney | 26:08 |
| 154 | Matt Padilla | 26:10 |
| 161 | Nathan DeMarb | 26:14 |
| 196 | Dom Cantarini | 26:30 |
| 198 | Brock Loftus | 26:31 |
| 219 | Aidan Donohue | 26:39 |
| 236 | Gabe Martinez | 26:50 |
| 261 | Balin Doud | 26:58 |
| 270 | Daniel Giacomini | 27:01 |
| 319 | Dylan Howell | 27:31 |
| 321 | Finn Loken | 27:32 |
| 346 | Garrett Wagoner | 27:58 |
| 350 | Ayden Groves | 28:00 |
| 381 | DJ Dutton | 28:30 |
| 398 | Lucas Naugle | 29:03 |
| 438 | Carson Cowling | 30:27 |
Up Next
The University of Illinois Springfield cross country teams are now gearing up for the Lewis Crossover on Saturday, Oct. 12. This meet presents an excellent opportunity for the Prairie Stars to compete against regionally and nationally ranked opponents, including the No. 9-ranked Lewis Flyers, who will host the event on their campus in Romeoville, Ill.
UIS men's cross country held onto sixth position in the latest regional ranking, trailing behind Grand Valley State, Lewis, Saginaw Valley State, Walsh, and Michigan Tech. The Michigan Tech Huskies have recently secured a spot in the national top-30, ranking No. 26, making them one of several crucial teams to challenge at the upcoming meet.