The UIS men's cross country team entered the national conversation this week, receiving votes in the NCAA DII Men's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll, which was released on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). 

In their last outing, UIS averaged 25 minutes and 35 seconds for the 8k distance, finishing 10th in a competitive field of 34 teams, primarily NCAA Division I and successful NCAA Division III programs.

Also receiving votes are Findlay, Harding, and Neb.-Kearney. 

In the Midwest Regional rankings, UIS is currently sixth, trailing top contenders Grand Valley State, Lewis, Saginaw Valley State, Michigan Tech, and Findlay. The Prairie Stars have held their No. 6 position since the preseason poll on Sep. 3. Notably, Findlay moved up from seventh to fifth after defeating Walsh last week, which dropped Walsh from fourth to seventh. Meanwhile, Michigan Tech climbed to fourth from fifth, keeping UIS steady in its ranking.

The Prairie Stars aim to build on this momentum next week at the Lewis Crossover, where they will meet several ranked teams for the first time this season, including No. 10 Lewis, No. 16 Colorado Christian, No. 18 Saginaw Valley State, and No. 22 Michigan Tech. The meet will be a crucial opportunity for UIS to showcase its abilities and further solidify its standing in both regional and national rankings.