IXC-Webmaster

IXC Community,

This is it. We have reached the end of our 2024 cross country season! I hate to be cliche, but it has flown by faster than any other season for me. Everyone should be seriously proud of themselves for their hard work this fall. I saw serious grit during both workouts and races. You all tackled repeats of all lengths and intensities with enthusiasm and bravery! Running up the Arb hill 12 times on a Friday afternoon is NOT most people’s idea of a good time, but I suppose cross country runners are inherently a little weird. Regardless, Coach E had a stellar breakout season leading this team! His workouts were highly effective (everyone PRed, and you said you weren’t going to fact check this recap) and pushed our athletes toward their goals.

Now let me tell you how Nationals went! We left early Friday morning and piled into three vans. Huge shoutout to the Brokaw, Casiello, and Rosen parents for being our most dignified chauffeurs this weekend. Their generosity and patience was unmatched! We are so grateful for your time. After getting on the road, most athletes slipped back into sleep. This not only energized us but helped pass some of the time (10+ hours of driving alone). After a couple of hours, it was time for lunch. All four vans stopped at various Panera locations for some fuel and a nice stretch of the legs, then it was time to drive the rest of the way to Barkcamp State Park in my home state of Ohio! We stopped here and did a quick shakeout run/walk. It was severely hilly and rocky, but scenic nonetheless. Mostly, we were all desperate to get some blood flowing in the legs. Somehow the third van managed to arrive 45 minutes after the rest of us, taking a more leisurely approach to the travel day. They say it’s about the journey, not the destination, right? Post run, we got back into the vans and drove a few more hours before dinner. My van stopped at a traditional Italian joint somewhere in Pennsylvania, Maryland, or West Virginia. Only Max B. seemed to know what state we were in. Thank you Mario for the hospitality and the digestive issues. The Casiello van also stopped at an Italian place too, and the Brokaw bunch hit up Olive Garden. The theme was carbs I guess. Each group had a great time getting to know one another and reflecting on their exciting day in the van. We all eventually made it to the Days Inn (well into the night!). It was time then for some desperately needed showers (I’m talking about you Anna Z.!) Though it was late, we reconvened in one of the rooms for some inspiring words from Coach and the annual Nats Raps. The Raps spoke for themselves (vote Albert for best Nats Rap). There was a range of styles and rhyming schemes, but everyone that performed seemed to think their own rap was funny. Anna Z. and I gave it our all up there but the silence was deafening. We are already working on ours for next year though. Coach E, with his ego slightly bruised from all of the insults, mustered up the vocal strength to give a quick pep talk before we headed to bed. He told us we were ready for what the course had in store, but nothing could have truly prepared us for what lay ahead. I can’t say with complete certainty what everyone did in their rooms that night, but as far as I know, everyone fell asleep promptly, dreaming of Hershey bars.

The next morning, it was race day! The breakfast area was abuzz with excitement and nerves. We were accompanied by our friends at University of Virginia, so the place was completely swamped with orange and blue. We departed for Hershey Parkview course pretty early and got the tent and tarps all set up. We had a bit of time before our first race, so everyone got situated, made their first (of many) porta potty runs, and got their free swag from Bombas and LMNT!!!

The first race we had runners in was the women’s Junior/Senior/Grad 6K. Our amazing Mira Bhimani suffered a last minute injury and could not make it, so Evelyn Rowan braved this race by herself! She had the privilege of entering into this race blissfully unaware of how treacherous the terrain is. Evelyn described it as majorly tough, but she enjoyed the humongous cheering squad that motivated her throughout the race.

She also noted that there was an Evelyn from another school nearby, so she received double the enthusiasm. Evelyn finished her race in 29:32. As a result of her being the first one to go, she then had to describe the course to the rest of us. She tried to be honest, but not discouraging, but there is no sugarcoating the volume and size of hills we had to scale.

The next race of the morning was the men’s Junior/Senior/Grad 8K. We had a solid turnout in this category. Finishing first and being our ONLY ATHLETE ON THE PODIUM (besides Diane) was Simon Hildy. Simon thought it was a fun race and enjoyed it even though most people hated it. He was stoked to receive a certificate for his time of 28:22.9. His name essentially has the word Hill in it so this performance checks out. Behind Simon was Quinn Born, who has completed one heck of an IXC career. He had been inspired by Hootie & the Blowfish playing at the hotel and by the porta potties. Quinn ran an awesome race, finishing in 28:52.2 and placing 14th. Much to his dismay, NIRCA only gave out certificates for Top 10. Quinn was robbed of a podium finish at his very last race. After a brief outburst of disappointment, he realized he doesn’t need a paper to signify his impact these last four years (Simon– I would hide that certificate if I were you). Thanks Quinn for being such a friend to everyone on this team! Behind Quinn was another senior, Gabe Inojosa. Gabe accomplished his goal of a jersey swap, so the day was a success. He also continued in his tradition of having his shoe come untied during the race. Even with a stop to fix this, he finished in 30:11.7. He felt that he ran well, though he did not escape his cursed laces. Gabe, you will surely be missed! Behind Gabe was Nick Kwentus, my new favorite YouTuber. Nick didn’t share much with me about his race (maybe he’ll spill in the next vlog?) but said he loved watching his teammates race from atop the large rock structure. I also enjoyed that. Nick finished in a time of 31:50.5. I bet the naps he took in the van contributed to that awesome time. Up next was Aidan Farrell. Aidan thought the hills sucked but made for an exciting last race of the season. Way to embrace the discomfort! He finished with a time of 33:09.6. Right behind Aidan was another senior, Henry Hornbrook. I am so glad Henry brought the Illinois flag, though it was substantially shorter than Virginia Tech’s which made me feel somewhat inferior… Henry donned his crown one last time, and though he told me the king got cooked by the hills, I still think his time of 34:13.1 was pretty impressive. He had a great weekend and the culmination to his IXC career. Way to go Henry!!

Pictured here is the women’s Championship team, substituting Diane for me. They always take the pictures once I walk away. We miss you Diane!

The next race was the Women’s Championship 6K. We unfortunately were down a few of our top runners, but still had a mighty pack of ladies in our box! Let me note that the course was a little long (~0.15 miles) so that we could run uphill a few more times. Finishing first was Claire Casiello, who has made me so proud this season! By the time I asked Claire for details about her race, she had already blocked it out. She said her paces ranged from 3K running down the inclines to half marathon pace going up. These paces averaged out to a finish time of 25:00.2. Well done Claire! She was sad this was her last race, and I sure am sad too! She has set such a great example for the power of hard work and consistency. Behind Claire was Madame President, Bridget Brokaw. Bridget couldn’t believe it was her last cross country race, but we all know she prefers track! She said she left it all out there and was grateful to have Lenny to run with when things got rough. She finished in 26:52.8. Bridget is a gem of a human and I don’t even want to imagine this team without her. Lenny finished just after Bridget in a time of 27:04.3. I am glad we convinced Lenny to make the journey East with us. Lenny also appreciated having Bridget right by her, and was motivated by trading off who was leading. I can’t wait to see the things Lenny will do in these next four years! I finished after Lenny in a time of 27:37.0. I will tell it to you straight- that was an abomination of a course. The flat parts were nice, but very brief and inadequate to recover. I also kept getting passed on the downhills by my teammates, but I ended up passing all of them in the end so who am I to complain. Next year I am locking in for XC, mark my words. I had such a last this weekend and have so much love for the IXC family! Behind me was Suhani Peramanu, who finished in a brisk 27:56.2. Suhani had negative expectations going into the race (thanks to our resident debbie downer, Evelyn), so she was ready for a challenge when the gun went off. It wasn’t as bad as she expected and had her garlicky pasta from the night before to power her up the hills. She overcame her beef with Anna Z.’s feet and the two finished nearby each other. Anna’s time was 28:08.4, an impressive feat (ha, get it?) considering the terrain. Anna said it hurt going down the hills just as much as going up them, but she thought it was kinda fun and as time went on afterward, she even found some retrospective appreciation for the race. Anna stirred the pot like she always does, making members of the team uncomfortable at times. We love her anyway. Up next was TBJ, who also may have just ran her last cross country race. Anna, we appreciate your sacrifices this weekend and it was great to have you on the team. Anna used the downhills to her advantage as much as possible, but this course was relentless and the motivation was low. Regardless, Anna told me she had such a blast and wouldn’t have traded it for the world. That concludes the results for the Championship race! Being down some athletes definitely hurt us (you know it’s bad if I am scoring) and we finished in 17th place. I am so proud of these women and all the others that have been involved this season.

Up next was the Men’s Championship race. The guys were stoked to get a taste of what Hershey had to offer. These poor fellas had to run up the steepest hill 3 times. Seriously, that’s a crime. Finishing first in a slight upset was Sam Lambert. Sam finished in 27:10.3, He surpassed coach in the last couple K, proving to all of us that we should never get too comfortable. Great race Sam! Coach E finished a super successful season with what he described as the worst race of his career. He took a learn as you go approach and it completely failed (failed is harsh terminology in my opinion). Still, he said he was super proud to have coached this season, and nearly teared up when reflecting on this last few months. He also offers congratulations to Sam for his ‘machine-like’ performance. Humble and proud. Coach finished in 27:15.8. Percy Moser crossed the line next. He described the performance as ‘no bueno’, likely due to the poor pre race meal options provided by the Brokaw bus. Hopefully he had enough Alice in Chains on the way back to drown out his sorrows. Percy finished in 27:28.4. I also need to mention that Percy had the most passionate Nats rap (feat. Connor Quadrini). Up next was the iconic Albert Szewczyk, who finished in 27:50.9. He told me he was surprised by the steepness of the hills, but still managed to clutch up and use the flat parts to regain his momentum. Albert was an entertaining addition to the Rosenmobile, though I never got to hear the lore he kept promising us. Maybe next year. Up next was everyone’s buddy, Easton Rosen. This was Easton’s last race with IXC as well. It could have been the nap on top of his pumpkin bread or Mario’s alfredo propelling him forward, but regardless, he said it went relatively well. Though the middle of the race felt like it was twice as long as it was, he still had expected worse out of the hills and found the run pretty bearable. Easton has been such a great addition these last two years and will be missed! Up next was another Rosenmobile passenger, Thomas Harmon. Thomas said it was a rough day ngl, but he will be taking time to reset ahead of track season. He still had a blast hanging out with his wonderful teammates all weekend long, and enjoyed getting to sit in the back row for every minute of the van ride. Rounding out the men’s team was freshman Max Maloney. Max finished in a very swift 29:01.3. Max thought the race was super tough and blames the flatness of Urbana. Overall, he still said it was a great experience and he’s happy he went.

The final race of our day was the Men’s Freshman/Sophomore race. We had good turnout here as well, with Connor Quadrini finishing first. Connor chose the ignorance is bliss mindset when preparing for this race and opted not to look at the course map. Where and how he went askew, I do not know, but he somehow cut off part of the course. Between the hours of 8 am and 3 pm he could not carve out time to get it together, and blames his teammates for their lack of guidance. He left Hershey with a great story to tell. His time was 28:31.1 (officially!). Up next was Morgan Frederick, who somehow PRed by 3 seconds. How he did that, I do not know. I believe this was our only PR of the day, so major kudos to Morgan! He finished in a time of 29:07.7. Just behind him was Jensen Bidmead, who ran an impressive 29:08.8. Jensen told me the race was extremely hard, but he almost cooked. We will look out for that next year. Behind Jensen was Zach Coren. Or wait, was Zach first? I hope they gave the bibs to the right people. Just kidding! Great race, Zach! He finished in a time of 29:51.9. He was proud of his control on the hills, though they were still brutal. Zach had a great weekend just like everyone else! Up next was Alex Demas, who penciled in time to race amidst his nap/ ignore everyone schedule. He thought the experience was horrible and his back hurt from carrying the team for so long. Alex was a ray of sunshine in the Rosenmobile and I am missing our laughs together. Up next was Brendan Graven, who crossed the line in 31:34.6. Brendan did not particularly enjoy this race, probably because it wasn’t held at the Arboretum. Bring it home for us next year. Robert Henkel and Max Boughner were next. Robert just barely eked out the win with a time of 33:54.6. I stand corrected on my previous statement; Robert also PRed! Robert had a fun time during the race, though he would have preferred not to inhale dust at the bottom of each hill. Robert will be poised and ready to show those hills who’s boss if we ever return to Hershey (please NIRCA, somewhere closer next year). Max Boughner finished in 33:55.5, ending his first ever cross country season on a great note. Fun fact, Max mostly eats milkshakes and refuses to eat Taco Bell and Chipotle. Don’t take him there! Max capped off his season with what he called his best effort to date. Great job Max, and thanks for the Instagram follow!

Our final runner of the day was Farooq Hamza, who finished in 35:34.1. He compared his race to his exploded bowl of hotel oatmeal (who knew you can’t microwave styrofoam?). He said he got out too fast and lost Max, but it was still an overall good experience. That is the positive spirit that gets us far in life!

After awards, we headed over for some sweet fun at Hershey World or whatever it’s called. The World of Chocolate ride was a major hit, and many of us loaded up on chocolate and candy for the ride home. After that, it was dinner nearby, then a 2.5 hour van ride to our next hotel. Saturday night consisted of either immediate sleep, or cards and slushies in the lobby. The next morning, we left early for the rest of the long trek back to Champaign. Overall, it was such a great weekend of racing and bonding with the team. Though the course wasn’t the fastest, it was a true test of the human spirit. Some of us got better grades than others. Thanks again to all parents who drove and members of the board who made this weekend happen. I am sad this season has ended, but grateful for all of the memories I made.

Phew, that was a lot. I am sure most of you just search for your own names, but I hope you enjoyed that recap and my others this season! It has been such a joy getting to serve as Webmaster this fall. I am not sure what the future holds, but I will maybe be back next season for more. If not, I am sure the torch will be passed to a tech-savvier, funnier, more enthusiastic individual after me. Regardless, you all are in good hands.

Peace, love, and prosperity,
Emma Berg

PHOTOS: https://photos.app.goo.gl/m3k53YGPYqNgez4n7

Dear loyal readers,
WE RACED REGIONALS! No, we did not get to host this year (sorry Brendan), but we were very excited about racing in a new place. Our regional meet was held in Iowa City, a short 3 hours and 40 minutes from Champaign. The physical distance between us and the course meant this was an overnight meet, so we left on Friday afternoon and began our drives out West. Nearly every car stopped at an Olive Garden along the way, except the late van that opted for the restaurant Gabe I used to frequent! We all filled up on breadsticks, pasta, and burritos, fueling ourselves for race day! Everyone slowly trickled into the Coralville Quality Inn. Special shoutout to Laine for seamlessly organizing our hospitality every time. We appreciate you! After some trips to get sweet treats and some bonding in the hotel, our athletes headed to bed to get rest before the big day.

The next morning alarms went off at 0600 and we inundated the breakfast buffet with orange and blue. Once everyone had eaten and caffeinated themselves, it was time to brave the cold and make the quick drive over to Ashton Cross Country course. We effortlessly figured out where to go, hauled the tent, tarps, and spike bags over to the team camp area, and got settled. We had some fun doing hair, taking photos, and desecrating the porta potties. Shortly, it was time for the women to get their bibs and start warming up.

The first race of the morning was the women’s 6K. As the sun rose over the treeline, the frost began to melt, creating some slippery spots, but also illuminating the beautiful fall foliage. After a short preview of the course, which begins with the world’s longest downhill straightaway, the women suited up and began warmups. Expectations were high, especially considering the perfect weather and rolling hills. Coach Ethan inspired us with some words of wisdom, specifically about trying to get around those wearing red. After a spirited ‘IXC’ chant, we ran back to the starting line and got ready to run. If I may insert a personal opinion, this was the best cross country course I have ever run. There were some relatively steep inclines, but they were short and always followed immediately by a downhill recovery. Maybe it was the crisp air, sunshine, or complete lack of wind, but something about this course really did it for me.

Anyways, let’s get into how our ladies team did. They placed second overall with 54 points (I think it was 54 points). Up first was Aubrey Chaney, who finished in a time of 23:07. Aubrey said this was a great return to racing after about a year off, and she thought it was super fun. Aubrey placed 5th overall and got a super sick medal! Also placing in the top ten was Joy Dudley, who got 7th place and ran a time of 23:14. Joy felt awesome during her seasonal PR race and loved the course. We will miss her Nats for sure! Up next was Claire Casiello, who placed ninth and ran a time of 23:36. This was technically a PR for Claire since Auggie was a little long, and she said she felt like she gave it her all. She would like to thank the Rock Island Olive Garden for sponsoring this performance (legend has it Claire once ran an Olive Garden out of breadsticks…) Up next was Bridget Brokaw, who had a legendary cheer squad come out to see her massive PR. Bkay ran a time of 24:17, absolutely smashing her previous best. I am so proud of you Bridget! Up next was Lenny Sterritt, who ran a time of 25:16. Lenny did not have much to say to me about her race, but she was fueled by Albanese gummies (CANDY NOT ANYTHING ELSE) and seemed to enjoy the day. We hope Lenny can join us for Nats. Up next was IXC’s biggest fan, Anna Jablonski. TBJ floated up those hills and finished with a time of 25:40. Thanks for coming Anna, it would not have been as fun without you! I (EMMA BERG) finished after Anna with a time of 25:51! I was relieved to be capable of running faster than Augustana, and I seriously had such a great time. I am so grateful for this awesome team!!!! Right behind me was Anna Zlatic. Anna and I agreed that our little pack was super helpful during this race. Anna (not Anna), ran a time of 25:55, a lifetime PR! Yay Anna! Up next was Suhani Peramanu, who described her race as terrible due to her ‘non-functional’ legs. Luckily, Suhani is Suhani, and she was able to laugh about it as she enjoyed her chorizo scramble hold the chorizo, queso, and eggs. Suhani is deserving of the best race ever, so hopefully she will find that at Nats. She ran a super respectable time of 26:02. Up next was Annika Luthe, who ran a time of 26:44. This is allegedly a 3 second PR, which is the best amount of time to PR by. She felt really good and enjoyed the race experience. Finishing just behind Annika was Sam Anderson. Sam ran a time of 26:44 also! Sam said it was a fabulous experience. She was a great roommate also, even offering us her second chocolate croissant. Great work Sam! Up next was Hannah Madla, who ran an amazing time of 27:13. This was yet another PR for Hannah, but she felt like she had more in her. To PR and still feel like you’ve got something in the tank is a rare occurrence. I can’t wait to see how she does at Nats (assuming she is going)! Up next was Lia Tondeva, who finished with a time of 27:28. Lia PRed, was super happy with the temperature, and just had a really fun time overall. Behind her was another one of my roommates, Mira Bhimani. Mira has been such an awesome addition to the team this year. She ran yet another PR and finished with a time of 30:46. She said she felt strong and executed her race plan beautifully. Rounding out the women’s team was Piper Rieger, who ran a time of 34:54. Piper said it was far better than Augustana, though she still struggled to breathe at times. However, she said she didn’t haul ass to Iowa for nothing, so she finished her race strong. It was such a great day of racing for these hard working women. I am so proud of each and every one of them and extremely grateful to call them my teammates.

Up next was the men’s race at 10:00! The guys ran the same route as the women, but with an additional half lap. After some extremely vivacious cheering for their female teammates, the men suited up in their neon shorts and donned their racing bibs. After the usual warm run and dynamics, Coach E called the huddle. He got the team riled up and ready to show the Great Plains region what we’re all about here at Illinois! The guys ran back to the start line and through the tunnel of jazz hands. Shortly after, the gun went off and the race began. The men also finished in second place!!! Let’s dive into individual performances.

Up first, the regional champion, our esteemed coach, Ethan Forsell. When I asked Ethan before the race if he was going to win it, he humbly said there was a chance, but that he’d have to fight a few others for that title. In the end, he led from the gun to the finish line. Ethan showed some serious grit, strategically competing to a time of 25:28. Up next was Percy Moser. Percy overcame a slew of obstacles prior to the meet, including but not limited to: 45 minutes of sleep two nights prior, a sore back from his training workout (?), and the inability to make left turns. In the end, Percy pulled through and fought his way to a sixth place, medal-earning finish of 26:03. Great job Percy and thanks for queuing Slipknot the whole way home! Up next was Sam Lambert. When asked about his race, Sam said he is quote ‘happy to be alive’. While I am not entirely sure what to make of this statement, I do know that Sam raced wonderfully and has continued to be a valuable addition to the squad. Sam ran a time of 26:23. Just behind him was Thomas Harmon, who finished in 26:30. Thomas believes this is a PR (something I could look into but saying it’s a PR is always the right answer), and felt great during this race. He earned his medium rare steak after that! Up next was Albert Szewczyk, who has continued to dip nearer and nearer to his PR! He was excited to break past the 27 minute barrier for the first time this season, and is optimistic about that lifetime PR at Nats. Way to go Albert! His time was 26:55. Up next was Maxwell Maloney, who asserted his position as our sixth fastest runner. He said it was a good race, a great PR, and he couldn’t be more excited for Nats in a few weeks! Max’s time was 27:04. Up next was Easton Rosen, who finished in 27:31. While this wasn’t Easton’s favorite race of his life, he is grateful to have gotten the bad day out of his system. Onwards and upwards; I love that positivity! After Easton was Simon Hildy, who finished in a time of 27:47. Though he did not achieve his goal of breaking 206 bpm during the race, he loved the course and had a super solid performance. I think 207 is in the cards for Nats. Up next was James Stanley. This was James’s season debut after some time off due to injury. He surprised himself with how well he did and was very happy with his time of 27:55. All the chicken and rice is paying off. Up next was Quinn Born. Quinn was fueled by the support of his family and had an awesome (seasonal) PR. Quinn loved the course and terrain so much he decided to stay in Iowa. I bet the people in his car appreciated the extra room on the way back. He finished with a time of 28:27. Up next was Alex Demas, who really wanted to beat Quinn but fell two seconds short of that goal. Alex still said he felt great and enjoyed the race. He finished in a time of 28:29. You’ll get him next time! Up next was Gabriel Inojosa, who also was gunning for Quinn during the race. Though he didn’t beat Quinn, Gabe still had a huge PR of 28:32, and told me he was looking forward to refreshments after the race. Up next was Zach Coren, who was shocked with his excellent performance. Zach ran a time of 29:19 and absolutely loved the course. Great work Zach! Up next was Brendan Graven, who was very happy to be back to racing after a short hiatus. Considering his previous health status, Brendan’s time of 31:09 is seriously respectable. Kudos to Brendan. Up next was Aidan Farrell, who finished in a time of 31:30. Aidan described his racing experience as fantastic and came away with a shiny seasonal PR. Up next was Nick Kwentus, who appreciated the scenery and the rolling hills of the course. Overall, he enjoyed the experience and finished with a time of 31:57. After him was Mauricio Marin, who finished in 32:52. Mauricio said he did a great job of maintaining consistency and felt like he gave it his all! Great job Mauricio. Up next was a dynamic duo of Farooq Hamza and Max Boughner. These two had big plans for sub-35, and absolutely blew that goal out of the water. Farooq completed his first ever 8K race in 33:05, and Max was just behind him in 33:07. There’s nothing like having someone to chase down! Great job to those two on a fantastic performance. Up next was Robert Henkel, who finished with a time of 33:13. Robert said his race went well and this was a PR for him. Rounding out the men’s team was Aidan Markiewicz, who had fun, and wants to leave it at that. Aidan ran a time of 35:29. Overall, it was a majorly successful day with tons of PRs all around. Although the men fell short of the overall title, they still put up a great fight and showed serious toughness out there in Iowa. I can’t wait to see what Nats holds for these athletes.

Both the men and women’s teams placed second overall and we had plenty of PRs and medals won. It was a great day to be an Illini!

After the awards ceremony, we packed up camp and drove to the Foundry Food + Tap for some grub. They handled our volume of athletes with ease, and everyone found something to pique their interest. Then it was just a short (long) drive back to campus. The scenery on the way home was so beautiful with the golden sunlight shining on the transitioning trees. Coming from someone that gets sick of driving, this journey went by far too fast. I wish I could do it all again.

Alright, that is all from Emma for today. I look forward to returning after Nationals. See you in Hershey, Pennsylvania!!!!

Warmest regards,
Emma Berg

Photos Link (I did not weed through the pictures due to laziness) https://photos.app.goo.gl/TpW81fPeKGp5MPdcA

Photos Link: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOVrpzoHTzN96Gc_RTi8aPFI0h_P8jDnglekgWNs2FHGjhHUmWS5KiBTonUw1imdg?key=NlVlYmVLb0F6amoyVHhWMUl6ZjdRdmFmWGNuQW13

Thank you Anna Zlatic and all associated photographers for capturing our athletes in their element!

Welcome back to illinitrackclub.com, we are so glad you’re here. Today I am coming at you with a rundown (pun intended) of our most recent meet, the Irish Invitational. Hosted by Notre Dame and located at Madeline Bertrand County Park in Niles, Michigan, this meet was an exciting stop on our Tour de Midwest (you’re next, Iowa!!!) This was the second year ND has hosted the meet and IXC’s very first time participating, so our athletes were stoked to see what the day had in store. Coach E had described the course as wooded and flat, so hopes were high. Athlete turnout was pretty epic this weekend, especially with everyone’s legs likely still tired from their efforts at Auggie last weekend. A chill week of easy runs and a light speed session helped our runners recover and prepare for a pretty astonishing showing at this meet.

It was another early departure today (curse you Eastern Time). Luckily all of our dedicated athletes were tucked into bed by 8pm, with visions of morning runs dancing in their heads. People really showed out in the vehicle department, and we even had someone who was not even racing haul a couple athletes up north (THANK YOU Alexandria Pos!) From what I have heard, the drives were relatively uneventful, albeit slightly long. It was a gorgeously sunny morning for a cross country meet. The trees have begun to change, and the air feels crisper. You simply cannot beat fall cross country races!

Our ladies’ team was racing first, so they suited up quickly after arrival. They embarked on a quick warm up/ mini tour of the course. After getting their bearings and their blood flowing, it was time for the classic pre-race drills, strides, and huddle. The inspiring words from Coach E must have really lit a flame in each of our athletes, because the women of IXC took home an exciting FIRST PLACE FINISH! Hey @CRCoachesPoll, does this move us up a spot or two?? With just 26 points, the women absolutely blew the competition out of the water. Our athletes are straight up fierce. Finishing first for the women was senior Claire Casiello, who had yet another great race. She enjoyed the scenery and terrain, though she was slightly confused on how to navigate the new course. Regardless, she was excited the course was a true 6K, and she totally impressed me with her time of 24:07.1. Right after Claire was Joy Dudley, who placed third with a totally impressive time of 24:13.00. In 6th place was your president, Bridget Brokaw. Bridget’s hard work this season is beginning to pay off! She ran a super speedy 25:34.20. I can’t wait to see how the post season goes for miss Bkay! Up next was Lenny Sterritt. She has proven herself already as a powerful asset to the team. She ran a time of 25:50.70. Well done Lenny! Up next was the legendary Anna Jablonski. Jablonski proved to us all how much she loves cross country by showing up and showing out at this meet. She ran a time of 26:06.20. Great job TBJ. Up next was Suhani Peramanu. Suhani told me things just didn’t come together for this race, but that’s okay. Not every day is perfect! I am proud of her nonetheless. She finished in 26:51.00. Up next was Anna Zlatic. Anna cut lots of time from last week and finished with a time of 27:07:00. She said it even felt more like a tempo run! Right behind her was Alyson Ficca, who took a day off from her $10,000 road bike to remind herself how fun cross country is. She had a great race, finishing in a time of 27:35.30, even after not doing a workout for the last seven months. What a comeback!  Finishing with Alyson was Sophia Libman, who I somehow see running every single day. Even just a hello from Sophia is enough to brighten anyone’s day! She ran an impressive 27:35.60. Up next was Hannah Madla, who has steadily shaved time off her 6K each week. She finished the race in 28:10.00. Sub 28 at regionals! Next up was Lia Tondeva, who finished in 30:33.30. Lia always has a great attitude about running. Behind Lia was the birthday girl, Mira Bhimani! Mira cut a whole minute off from last week, finishing in 31:12.90. What an awesome way to spend your birthday!!!!! Lastly for the women was Piper Rieger, who also cut many minutes off from last weekend and finished with a super speedy time of 34:56.60 Well done ladies! This was such a standout day for many of our athletes. To perform this well on a tricky course and with a small field of competitors is truly remarkable. I can’t wait to see what Regionals holds for us!

Onto the men’s race. I feel it is appropriate to address the unfortunate truth: the course was short. Like, notably short. See Mikey, it happens to the best of us. By the looks of it, this was closer to a 7.5K race, but honestly that last half kilometer must really suck, so we are better off omitting it. On top of that, a winding course led to Illinois’ very own Henry Hornbrook leading a pack slightly further astray. Luckily everyone with him was kind, understanding, and polite in their retellings of the race on Strava. Regardless, cross country isn’t really about times or distances, but rather placement and competitiveness. And compete, we did. It was a double header for IXC, with the men’s team also taking home the FIRST PLACE FINISH. Are you kidding me?? I couldn’t be prouder to be a member of this awesome group of athletes.

Let’s dive into individual performances. Finishing first both in the race and on the team, was our superstar coach, Ethan Forsell. Seriously Ethan, save some for the rest of us. Jokes aside, he has been crushing it this season and finally broke the third place curse. Ethan finished with a time of 24:37.70. Right after Ethan was the iconic Percy Moser, finishing in 24:55.50. This was Percy’s first meet of the 2024 season, and he reminded everyone just how strong he is. Finishing closely behind him was Sam Lambert, who has continued to impress us with his speed and competitiveness. Sam finished in 25:01.70, receiving third place. Continuing in the slew of IXC finishers, up next was Easton Rosen in fourth place. Though he said he may have had something left in the tank (I bet everyone did since the course was short), he still put up a great effort today, working with the pack and beating the first Notre Dame finisher by under a second. Easton’s time was 25:11.60. Rounding out our top 5 today was Isaac Moss. He finished right behind Easton and the ND runner, with a time of 25:13.30. After him was another pack of three more IXC men. First was Maxwell Maloney, who placed 7th with a time of 25:50.60. Next was Thomas Harmon who finished in 25:54.30. Simon Hildy was up next. He had a fun race and finished in 25:55.80. After Simon was Albert Szewczyk, who definitely accomplished his goal of cutting a few more minutes off. We’ll call it a win. Albert’s time was 26:12.60 and he was the last of our team to finish in the top 10. Though these times aren’t necessarily regulation, 9 guys out of the top 10 is 100% legit. Good stuff. Up next was Jensen Bidmead, who was not a huge fan of the course layout and also fell victim to the wrong turn. Though the conditions were not ideal, Jensen still made the best of it and finished in 27:11.70. Just a few seconds behind Jensen was freshman Mauricio Marin, who finished with an impressive time of 27:17.10. Also in that pack was Giovanni Hernandez, who finished with a time of 27:21.10. Zach Coren crossed the line next, with a final time of 27:37.90. Zach beat teammate Alex Demas by just 0.10 seconds! Quite a photo finish. If you can’t do the math, this means Alex finished in 27:38.00. Up next was Henry Hornbrook, whose race I have already mentioned. Henry began leading a group about halfway through the race, then reached an unfortunate fork in the road and made the wrong choice. As Robert Plant said, Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, There’s still time to change the road you’re on. Henry and his pack converged with the lead pack and ended up running an indeterminable distance. It’s a learning experience! Henry crossed the line in 27:50.60. Henry admits to taking poor Aidan Farrell with him on this rebellious escapade. Aidan finished right behind Henry with a time of 27:51:00. Up next was Nolan Enright, who made his season debut with a great effort and a finishing time of 28:09.60. Up next was freshman Connor Quadrini. Connor finished with a time of 28:24.60. Next up was Nick Kwentus, who persevered through the questionable conditions and finished his race in 28:56.20. Next was Walter Chang, who ran an extremely impressive 29:11.20. Next up was Max Boughner, who braved the 8K once again and finished in 31:56.20. Cross country isn’t so bad is it?? Rounding out the guys team was senior John Burns, who finished in 33:41.20. Overall, this team blew the competition out of the water. These guys made the best of the difficult course, and created quite the funny story to tell. Sure the times can’t really be counted, but the unity and competitiveness of the team was admirable.

Post race, it was time to GRUBBBBB. Continuing in Culver’s hiatus, the team opted for Chick-Fil-A today. We have really stepped outside of our comfort zone. To be honest, I really want a comprehensive review of the CurderBurger (yeah, it’s back), so Laine, can we please go to Culver’s after Regionals?? With full bellies, the team piled back into their respective vehicles and started the drive home. I heard that Bridget’s 2000 Camry only got 12 miles to the gallon thanks to all that hardware on the way back. Small price to pay for an epic day of racing.

Alright, that is all from me. Now it’s time to ramp up our training for a little bit as we keep building towards Nationals. There will be a nice weekend off from racing before Regionals in Iowa on the 19th (sign up for football volunteering on October 12th, I’ll be there). Like I have said many times, I am so proud of the team’s efforts at the Irish Invite. We are looking sharp, strong, and representing the Illini name well.

Yours truly,
Emma Berg

What’s up everyone?!?! Today I am reporting back about our second meet of the 2024 cross country season, the Brissman-Lundeen Invitational! Better known as Auggie, this is a legendary meet in the world of IXC. Both the men and women’s races consist of multiple laps around the Saukie Island Golf Course. This race is fabled to be flat and fast, so our athletes were hyped heading into it. It had been three full weeks of grueling workouts since our last showing at the Boiler Up Invitational, and most of our returning athletes were itching to shave a few minutes off. Unfortunately, the races were right at the hottest part of the day. Shade was hard to come by on the course and our athletes definitely felt that. We can’t seem to escape the heat at Auggie!

The morning started slightly later this time (7:45 am instead of 6 am departure!!!!), and we managed to scrape together enough seats to transport our 35 racers. The drive was slightly longer than the last meet, especially for those in my car who got to enjoy 15 extra miles of scenic I-80. Everyone arrived with plenty of time for warm-ups and enjoying the array of porta potties available to us. The women’s team had fun doing pre-race interviews and warming up. After some dynamics, strides, and a much-bigger-than-last-meet huddle, we toed the line and waited for the gun to go off. For whatever reason, the race started at 11:58 instead of 12:00, but we were ready nonetheless. The women put up quite the showing, scoring 111 points and securing 5th place among NCAA teams!

Let’s talk individual performances. Finishing in 4th place was senior Claire Casiello, who absolutely smashed this race with a time of 23:58.2. This was her first official sub-24 race, which was her goal going into today. Goal set, and goal achieved (per usual with Claire!) After Claire was junior Suhani Peramanu, who finished in 25:50.8. Suhani admits she started off too fast and paid the price on tired legs, but she still managed a strong race and a fast finish despite those challenges! Lenny Sterritt made her IXC debut with a super speedy time of 26:09.9. She has been humble about this amazing performance, but I am seriously impressed by her effort and place on the team! Right after Lenny was our president, Bridget Brokaw. Brokaw was motivated by the promise of sparkling water after the race. She was cheered on by her teammates and family, and finished with a time of 26:57.0. Really, I think she was just happy to be included in the women’s race this go around. After Bridget was our Gender Minority Captain, Anna Zlatic. Anna executed her race plan flawlessly and finished with a time of 27:34.9. Also shoutout to Anna for trekking all the way to and from Bloomington on Friday night to secure her vehicle for us. Right after her was sophomore Annika Luthe. Annika allegedly fought off a pesky bee and powered her way to a finish time of 28:11.1. Up next was a dynamic duo of Carlin Hass and Hannah Madla. Carlin finished just before Hannah with a time of 28:22.2. Hannah crossed the line in 28:25.9. We love to see our runners work together to make each other better! Finishing next was me (Emma Bergmann)! Though by no means a PR, I had fun getting back into racing after quite the hiatus. I finished in 28:55.4. Mira Bhimani finished 9th for the Illinois women with a time of 32:08. Per her own words, she ‘gave it everything [she] had’. At the end of the day, isn’t that all we can ask of ourselves?? Shortly after Mira was Lia Tondeva. Though this was not Lia’s favorite race ever, she still finished in 32:33.0 and maintained her bubbly attitude. Reiss Christensen finished next in a swift time of 34:01.0. JJ Scheurich made her season debut (and even drove to the meet! Freshman of the year!) and made us proud with her time of 36:29.9. Last but not least was Piper Rieger, who, just like Bridget, was happy to have made it in time for the women’s race. Piper finished her very first official 6K with a time of 37:32.9. Overall, we had a great turnout, everyone was able to run in the race they intended to run in, and we had a few PRs. Our women are definitely a force to be reckoned with. Despite the warm and windy conditions, everyone showed up today and made me proud.

Alright, now it’s time to talk about the men’s race! Our men secured 2nd place with 68 points, beating out many non-club teams! Finishing in 3rd place for the second meet in a row was Coach Ethan Forsell. Ethan showed us that his training plan is extremely effective and cruised to a time of 26:27.7. Shortly after Ethan was senior Adam Gorcyca. Adam made his season debut today and absolutely crushed it. His final time was 26:56.4. In third place for the men was Sam Lambert. He wowed us all with his finish time of 27:20.3. What a great race! Up next was Easton Rosen, who moved up effectively throughout the race and fought his way to a time of 27:33.9. After him was Thomas Harmon, who met us from home this morning for his 27:39.4 8K race! Up next was yet another dynamic duo of Isaac Moss and Maxwell Maloney. Though the heat was a factor, they still managed to elevator an opponent that was swerving in front of them (whatever this means). The two of them finished within seconds of each other, with Isaac barely eking out the win. He finished in 28:03.1 and Max finished in 28:07.4. I can’t wait to see what stunts they pull at the next race! Max Henige ran his first 8K ever, making it an automatic PR. Though he felt it was not his best race, he still finished looking spry, placing eighth for the men with a time of 28:18.7. Up next was junior Adam Lupatkin, who ran a course PR with a finishing time of 28:22.0. Adam was super happy with this result as it was his first race in a while. Consider that rust busted. Up next was transfer Albert Szewczyk. Though he did not beat his lifetime PR, he still shaved considerable time off of his last 8K. He finished just under 29 minutes with a time of 28:59.7. Just after Albert was Simon Hildy. As far as I can tell, Simon felt the effects of the blistering sun and relentless winds. His heartrate soared, but so did his drive (I don’t know?). Simon finished this race in 29:04.8. Go Simon! Up next was Morgan Frederick. Morgan both broke the 30-minute barrier and PRed! What more could you ask for? He fought through the middle miles and finished with a time of 29:09.4. Next we have a little bit of a mix-up. The results will tell us that Zach Coren finished next, but it was actually freshman Jon Wool running in his place. Jon escaped his pledge duties for an afternoon and returned to the IXC community. He ran 29:13.7. Great job to both Zach and Jon for this shared achievement. Crossing the line next was Quinn Born. Quinn finished in a humble 29:45.4. He felt that the experience could have been worse, but really was just looking forward to lunch at Arthur’s afterwards. Our last athlete to finish under 30 minutes was Alex Demas. This was his second meet with us, and he ran an astonishing time of 29:54.5. Gabe Inojosa had his season opener today, finishing with a time of 30:00.9. Right after Gabe was Alan Perez. Alan really embraced the suck today, fighting illness and racing to a time of 30:21.5. Alan said that the race got harder and harder-a truly thoughtful insight. Next up was Nick Kwentus, who ran an amazing time of 32:47.9. It’s been great having him back around this season! Up next was Connor Quadrini, who got some last minute coaching advice from 15hunna on Friday night. That wisdom pushed him to a finish time of 32:58.8. Next up was Henry Hornbrook. Henry passed the cheer squad with a smile each time! He finished in 33:58.9. Max Boughner made quite the jump in racing today. This was his very first cross country meet EVER!. After running 800s and miles throughout high school, he decided try a season of cross. He killed this first 8K, finishing with a time of 36:26.4. The guys really showed out today! Not every club could place so well among NCAA teams. I am super proud of these efforts!!!

Alright, that about does it. Special shoutout to our amazing photographer and videographer, Laine Hackmann. She captured most of these images and cheered us on with an infectious smile. Augustana is always something that our returners look forward to. Though the conditions weren’t ideal, we still had some PRs. The most important thing is that we had fun! And we all enjoyed lunch at Arthur’s afterward! They run a tight ship around there and it was a great mix-up from our usual Culver’s routine.

Okay, that is all from me! I will be back next weekend to recap Notre Dame. Let’s all rest up and enjoy the easier week coming up.
Godspeed,
Emma

Link to photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NAo5VawN3A3FdB8T9 (I hope this works)

Hi readers! We have officially kicked off our 2024 Cross Country racing season with an impressive showing at the Boiler Up Invitational. We met nice and early on Saturday morning, piled into our respective cars, and drove (with varying levels of success) to Lafayette, Indiana. The warm and somewhat blinding glow of the sun poured through the windshield, adding some excitement to the drive. When most of us finally arrived at the course, it was a bit of a trek to the camp, procuring some grumbling from the team members who had to carry the tent (thanks Simon and Brendan!) The hill we set up on was the perfect foreshadowing to the topographical nature of the course. It was so exciting to see the brand new tent get some serious action. Huge shoutout to Coach Ethan for providing us with this major upgrade!

Our runners suited up in their uniforms and bibs, and the women began to warm up soon after arrival. We had a small but mighty showing on their side, with eight athletes competing in this race. After the active warm up, a stride, and some inspiring words from Coach E, the ladies toed the line and the gun went off. They busted their rust with some amazing performances and an overall outstanding effort. Receiving the third place award was sophomore Joy Dudley, who just barely missed the sub-25 mark with her time of 25:01. Up next was Claire Casiello in ninth place, with a time of 25:53. Claire had unfortunately left her spikes at home, but still managed a great race and a substantially faster time than last year’s Purdue race. Coming in next was the iconic Suhani Peramanu, who finished in a brisk 26:31. Finishing fourth for University of Illinois was the smiliest runner I have ever met, Sophia Libman! She ran an impressive time of 28:23 and had fun while doing it. After that was a dynamic duo of returning runner Lia Tondeva and newbie Hannah Madla. Lia barely eked out the win in their dash to the finish, with a time of 29:04. Hannah crossed the line in 29:05, completing her very first 6K on the IXC team! Right behind them was sophomore Annika Luthe, who majestically ran her way to a finish time of 29:23 while rocking some awesome shades. The final Illinois finisher in this race was junior Mira Bhimani, who had an outstanding first race as a member of the team. She completed the 6 kilometers in a brisk 33:15, and looked strong throughout. Overall, it was an epic race and each of these women fought hard up and down the numerous hills. The women placed third overall with a score of 68 points.

Now, a brief aside to talk about our talented, organized, and supportive president, Bridget Brokaw. Bridget kindly offered to be a driver for this meet. Due to unfortunate circumstances and a mistake that could happen to anyone, Bridget and her four passengers did not arrive at the meet when the rest of us did. Curse Google Maps and its copy from clipboard feature! After a quick detour, that squad realized the McCormick street address they entered was not where the meet was held. Fortunately, this level headed bunch realized they could still make it on time for the men’s race, and Bridget gallantly chauffeured her passengers up to Lafayette. They arrived with plenty of time to spare, and all three female passengers decided to break the glass ceiling and join in on the men’s 8K.

Okay, now back to the races! The men’s 8K started at 10:30 am and we had quite the pack for this race. From baby freshmen to wise seniors, the breadth of ages and levels of experience was wide. After a jog, the usual pre-race drills, and a quick huddle, the guys’ team was off. Bridget Brokaw, Sam Anderson, and Piper Rieger joined the box with their male teammates, opting to follow the men’s course but stop after the usual 6K distance. Bridget finished her 6K in a smoking 26:05, an especially fast time considering the men’s course includes more trips up one of the brutal hills. She was cheered on by her supportive parents and teammates, as well as confused onlookers. After her, Sam finished with an amazing time of 27:50. This was an impressive, and once in a lifetime, first IXC racing experience for her. Piper enjoyed the beginning of her race but ended up deciding to just cheer her teammates on (she needed Culver’s ASAP!!!) She made the best of the turbulent day and bravely ran among the men at her very first college race. These three ladies were truly inspiring in their perseverance and positive spirit. None of them let these troubles stop them from running the course and showing up for themselves. While it is great material for a Nats rap (sorry Bridget, you’re going to get flamed), it was also a test of their true spirits as athletes. In my mind, they all aced it!

Moving onto the men’s results. It was quite a day for all of our athletes. Our first finisher was Coach Ethan Forsell, who did not let those Purdue guys intimidate him. Ethan proved that his training plans are working and placed third with a time of 26:37. Right behind him was junior Simon Hildy, who surprised himself with his speedy time of 27:30. Simon placed ninth, earning him a spot on the podium and an awesome souvenir certificate. Right behind Simon was fellow junior Thomas Harmon, who finished in 27:35. Less than a second behind him was our friendly social coordinator, Easton Rosen. Easton kicked his season off with a strong 27:36 finish. Freshman Max Maloney made his IXC debut with a time of 28:08. He is sure to break 28 at Augustana in a few weeks. Up next was a grad student who ran club at Delaware, Brendan Jones. Brendan will be running the Chicago Marathon in October, but made time in his training schedule for a quick 8K. He finished in 28:14. We can’t wait to hear the marathon time! Rounding out the top seven was another freshman, Jon Wool. Jon blew his sub-30 goal out of the water with a time of 28:34, a seriously respectable time given the hilly course. Up next was Alan Perez. After Alan was our most frugal treasurer, Quinn Born. Quinn ran an astonishing time of 29:28, and would want me to mention here that everyone needs to pay their dues (Venmo @ILXclub)! Next up was another freshman Jensen Bidmead, who finished right behind Quinn in 29:29. Jensen did an awesome job in his first 8K of his college career. Next up in the freshman pack was Giovanni Hernandez, who finished right behind Jensen in 29:36. Seconds behind Giovanni was Alex Demas, another ‘28 runner who crossed the line after 29:42. Continuing the freshman train was Morgan Frederick, who just barely missed the 30 minute mark with a final time of 30:01. I bet the course was a little long anyways. These guys did a great job representing Illinois and the Fighting Illini spirit! Up next was our home meet (or lack thereof) coordinator, Brendan Graven. Brendan kicked off his sophomore season with a time of 30:13. After him was returner Nick Kwentus, who finished in 30:48, a seriously impressive time. Up next was Albert Szewczyk, a former Harper College runner. Albert busted some rust after some early-summer injuries and finished with a time of 30:54. After Albert was yet another freshman, Mauricio Marin. Mauricio braved the 8K and its many hills, and finished with a time of 31:46. Right behind him was fellow freshman Connor Quadrini, who completed his first IXC race in a time of 32:18. Next up was Walter Chang, who finished just after Connor in 32:22. After him was everyone’s favorite crown-wearing runner, Henry Hornbrook. Henry just barely missed the sub-33 mark with a time of 33:01, but seemed to enjoy the race nonetheless. Next up was junior Aidan Farrell, who ran a speedy 33:04 for his first race of the season. Just after him was Raymond Zhang, a freshman who started his club career off strong with a time of 33:07. After him was Isaac Brooks who completed his race in 34:53. Next up was Max Boughner (we have a million Max’s on this team now), who ran an impressive 37:30. Next up was David Cano, who eked out a sub-38 time of 37:59. Shortly after David was Robert Henkel, who successfully finished his race in 38:18. Rounding out the men’s team was Charley Hoppis, who ended with a time of 41:57. The men finished second overall to Purdue, scoring 47 points.

After a great morning of racing and many podium finishes, the team pulled up the Culver’s (they hate to see us coming) for some well deserved grub. With some custard and butterburgers in their tummies, our tired teammates piled back into their cars and headed back to Champaign. I assume most everyone (aside from the drivers) napped on the way back. Overall, the Boiler Up Invite was a great way to kick the season off and let our athletes get a feel for racing. We have three whole weeks until our next competition at Augustana, and I am confident that will be a great day. Thanks to everyone who raced and cheered at this meet! You all are such a fun crowd and I loved the energy.

Cheers, 

Emma 

Hello Everyone, and welcome to the 2023-2024 Indoor Track Season!

I’m Adam Lupatkin, and I’ll be serving as webmaster this season, pumping out these write-ups and social media content all season long! Now, enough intro, let’s get into the write-up!

We started the season with a bang at the Olivet Nazarene University Holiday Invite. This meet can be tricky for many athletes, as it falls at the beginning of track training, and right after the conclusion of training from cross country, but our athletes went out, competed hard, and showed the world that the Illinois Track Club is here to compete! Let’s get into the event-by-event breakdown!

Let’s start with the women’s 60M Dash. The only Illinois woman brave enough to conquer the 60M, Ebba Burrows went out and ran a great race with an 8.36!

Moving on to the men, we have to start with the man himself, Tyler Klein. Tyler ran a 7.04 in the prelims, winning his preliminary heat and coming 4th overall in the prelims. He qualified for the finals, where he ran a smoking hot 6.94, coming in 2nd place overall! Sean Vibhatasilpin made for a perfect debut for his club career, running a 7.37 and coming in second place for the team! Not to be outdone, Ethan Hung came by close behind for his club debut, running a 7.56. Up with the newcomers, Club Elder Adam Adil definitely still has a long career ahead of him, running a 7.66. Making his debut, Alexzander Chu ran a beautiful 7.78, a great start for his season. Two more runners making their club debuts, Tanav Palisetti barely edged out Jacky Lin, with them running a 7.90 and 7.91, respectively. Jack Tolentino, in his debut, came out only slightly ahead of resident Club Elder Sandin Cuturic, running an 8.04 over Sandin’s 8.05. Rounding it out for the Illini, Brandon Perruquet came in at 8.54, a great way to start his season!

After racing for only 60M, our athletes were craving more, and many of them moved on to race in the 200M. We start it off with our women, where Zainab Ibrahim ran an impressive 30.06, and Gwen Bottom came close behind with a 30.62, a great start to both of their seasons.

I feel like I’m repeating myself here, but of course, we have to start on the men’s side with our resident speedster Tyler Klein. After coming in second in the 60M, Tyler said “Let’s do it again”, and ran a speedy 22.14 to come in second place overall, well done! Following his previous second-place team finish, Sean Vibhatasilpin let everyone know that he means business, running a 24.09. Adam Adil made sure to show off his speed in the 200, running a quick 24.83. Koen Brown woke up today and decided to run under 25, and did just that, running a 24.99 for his club debut. Alexzander Chu raced along Koen in the same heat, coming in at a 25.15 debut. Jacky Lin came in close behind in a 26.01, and if I can forecast the future, it’s only going to get faster from here. Sandin Cuturic, deciding today was the day to do it all, ran a 26.60, but believe me, this isn’t the last time you are going to see his name. Tanav Palisetti was right behind Sandin, coming in at 26.73. Brandon Perruquet ran a beautiful 27.35, capping off the short springs.

For those sprinters wanting a bit of extra distance, it’s time for the 400M. Along with his great performance in the 200M, Koen Brown came out and crushed the competition in his heat, winning his heat with a fire 55.11. Next came our Swiss Army Runners, the men who can do anything, Adam Adil and Sandin Cuturic, running 58.73 and 1:04.02, respectively.

Enough with the sprints, let’s get to my area of expertise, the distance events. Most of the men from the distance team were still building up after an impressive cross-country season, so it was the women who carried the distance team today. Sprints Coach Rachel Sakwa came out to display her expertise in both sprints and middle distance, running a 2:42.13 to come third overall in the 800M. For the mile, GMC Bridget Brokaw and Anna Jablonski ran together and raced a great race, Bridget running a 5:45.19 for a third-place finish, and Anna close behind with a 5.47.96 to claim a fourth-place finish.

It’s time to put the Field in Track and Field, and there’s no better way to start it off than with the high jump! Christina Jordan easily soared all the way up, leaping 1.60m to claim the first-place finish overall! For reference, that’s 5’3”, or about 11.25 iPhone X’s, wow! Making sure her teammate doesn’t steal all the glory, Gwen Bottom jumped a casual 1.40m, a perfect way to start her season!

On the men’s side, it was all up to the sole male jumper Jack Tolentino, and he didn’t disappoint, jumping an impressive 1.67m, or about 12 iPhone X’s, well done!

For those who don’t want to jump super high, they can always jump super far in the long jump! Ebba Burrows came out on top for the Illini with an impressive 4.79m, with teammate Zainab Ibrahim close behind with a 4.39m, great job to both athletes!

On the men’s side, it was the renaissance man Adam Adil himself, jumping 5.00m to come out on top for the team, showing he truly can do it all. After impressive performances in the sprints, Jacky Lin showed the team that not only can run, but also jump, coming in with a 4.80m, with revered club legend Sandin Cuturic coming in close behind with a 4.72m!

Last, but certainly not least, it’s our throwers! Although only having 2 throwers from the team were present, that didn’t stop them from having a great day, with Ivy Del Real throwing the shot put 7.76m and Jeffery Lefkowitz throwing the heavy metal ball 10.90m. A great first performance from both throwers, we look forward to much more to come!

That’s all from me folks! I hope you enjoyed it, and we look forward to seeing you again at our next meet, the Greyhound Classic at the University of Indianapolis on 1/20. Until then, have a great winter break, happy holidays, and Go ILLINI!

Meet Results: https://results.shazamracing.com/meets/29025

And with that, our season has come to an end. And what a season it was! This has been one of the most exciting seasons in all my time here at Illinois and it ended with a bang that I surely won’t forget. We had a huge crowd make a big sacrifice in their semester to make the trip all the way out to Virginia. 4 days of driving, sleeping in motels, and running out of gas all culminating in one last hurrah to close out the fall XC season. Take some time out of your own day and come with me as I recap the most exciting weekend of the semester. Let’s talk about some races!!

Race 1: Women’s Junior/Senior/Grad Race

The first race of the day was the Women’s Junior/Senior/Grad race, starting us on a spectacular note. This was the last club cross country race for those who ran it, and I’m glad to say that they left it all out on the course. It was a hot and humid morning as the women stepped to the line, but they competed well nonetheless. Lauren Brunk crossed the finish line first for IXC, running 29:17. This must’ve felt great for Brunk as she wasn’t able to compete last year, but managed to make it out this season and finish her career with a great race at nationals! Lauren Bartels took a break from being the best GMC either side of the Mississippi to run a time of 31:54. Although she wasn’t feeling great during the race, she battled all the way to the end, showing real toughness to push herself on a day that was hard on many. Congratulations on the career, Lauren! Anna Winnicki not only fought through the morning humidity, but she thrived in it! Anna closed out the IXC contingent in this race, running a 33:32 for her best race of the season! Way to finish Anna!

Race 2: Men’s Junior/Senior/Grad Race

Following up our upperclassmen women were our Junior/Senior/Grad men. This is another one of those special races, where many of those competing are making their final appearance for the club. It was a pleasure to see all of these athletes run, both today and throughout the time they have spent with the club. First to cross the finish line for IXC in this race was the one and only Arthur Mazzeo. Coming off a night where he finally broke his silence and let his thoughts be known, Arthur also broke his 8K PR, running a speedy 28:57 on a day where PRs were hard to come by. What a way to close out your time with IXC Arthur, congratulations. Our next finisher was Leyang Zhang, who was flying across the flat Virginia ground for a great time of 29:49 (They don’t call him Hawk for nothing!). This was another PR for Leyang, who has steadily improved this fall. Great job Leyang! Daniel Engel was next up for the gentlemen (what year is it again?!?!), completing his race in 30:02 for a season PR. Daniel has been a steady presence with the club since the first time I remember him running the old man’s race back in 2019 and it was great to see him compete one more time with the club. Next across the line was Philip Hu, running a 30:07 for the day. The result wasn’t what he wanted, but he has made great strides this season and is sure to make a splash next season as he continues to improve. Isaac Schifferer was the literal embodiment of leaving it all on the course, finishing in 31:43 and bringing things full circle by leaving his breakfast at the finish line. I hope Isaac enjoys his status as fastest runner in his house, he’s earned it after this season and a great career overall. In addition to being the most photogenic athlete in all of D4 club running, Henry Hornbrook ran a great race as well. Although the heat forced the shooting sleeves to come off, Henry was aerodynamic enough to finish his race in 32:30 with one of the best finishing sprints I’ve ever seen. Finishing just after Henry was your dear Webmaster, Tristan Taylor. I fell victim to Henry’s final burst despite knowing it was coming and thinking I had enough separation to avoid it. Even though I couldn’t hold him off, I managed a 32:35. Not how I wanted to go out, but I had a great time being able to run with these guys one last time and I’m proud to be their teammate. Yuki Mizuno was next up for the Illini, crossing the finish line in 33:22. He’s had a great season with the club and I can’t wait to see how he does next year! After Yuki came Andrew Stevenson, who has also had a great first year with IXC. Andrew was battling the heat the entire race and came through the finish in a time of 34:32. Andrew will be back next year and I have no doubt that just like this fall, he will continue to shave time off his PR and make his way under 30. The best Travel Coordinator in the game, Thomas Tran, followed closely behind Andrew with a time of 34:34. Not only did Thomas run a great race, he also managed to direct 53(!!!) people to and from lovely Mechanicsville, Virginia basically without a hitch. Please shower him with love the next time that you see him. Gabe Benson finished off a season of great improvement with one last good result, running a 34:46. He has made great strides this year, dropping 2 minutes off his PR from last season and will continue to be a great runner and teammate next year! Finishing off the race for the club was Ryan McClowry who ran a 39:53. Good way to close out the season Ryan!

Race 3: Women’s Championship

After opening the day with some great races from our elder athletes, it was time for championship racing to really begin. The excitement of the Junior/Senior/Grad races turned into anticipation as hundreds of NIRCA athletes spread themselves out around Pole Green Park to watch the top women duke it out. As she has done all season, Diane Makovic paced the IXC women with a time of 23:17. Diane is a known lover of variety packs and has certainly built her own variety pack of trophies, medals, and awards this season, capping it with a top-5 All-American finish! What a way to close out her first season with the club. Also capturing All-American paper was Laine Hackmann, who ran a great time of 23:47! Congratulations! Coming a long way from last year’s solo Fresh/Soph race was Claire Casiello, who ran a 25:29 to finish an amazing season for her. She worked well with her teammates and made her way through packs of runners for a gutsy race that she ran with pain in her quad. She’ll be back next year, looking to make a move for that coveted NIRCA paper. Freshman phenom Evelyn Rowan put a bow on an excellent start to her D4 career, coming through in 26:10. Evelyn has steadily improved over the last few months and should be a staple in the women’s top 7 over the next few years. Alyson Ficca finished soon after, running a time of 26:27 and she had a great time doing it. Alyson is a consistent feature of this team and I can’t wait to see her also become a consistent feature in these championship races as she continues to improve. Our dear leader, Maddy Feehan, was next for the women. Maddy has been waiting for her chance at the championship race since her freshman year and she finally got it, running a 27:19. She fought through a tough and hot race, closing her IXC career with one last strong performance. And finally, one of the only returners from last year’s women’s championship squad was Bridget Brokaw. Bridget ran a strong 27:52 and closed out a great day for our women’s squad. All together, these efforts amounted to 242 points and an 8th place finish, a huge improvement from 2021! These women managed to shave 365 points and 17 places from last year’s finish. It’s been an amazing year for our women and the future is looking bright as these runners grow and improve as a team!

Race 4: Men’s Championships

As has been the case this entire season, the women left the men with a tough act to follow. As has also been the case this season, the men were up to the challenge. Once again, our men were led by mustachioed Eldon Warner who truly battled his way to a 26:03 and a second top-5 finish in as many years at the championships. In the last XC race of a decorated career, Eldon left it all on the course and showed why he is one of the finest runners in IXC history. Ethan Forsell was next up, cruising to a 26:29 and the first of what should be many All-American finishes. Despite his freshman status, Ethan established himself as a certified Big Dog™ early this season and has shown why that’s the case every time he toes the line. Pop Tarts enthusiast Adam Gorcyca finished next, running 27:04. Another name to look out for as he has many years of great running ahead of him and will continue to make strides as he goes. Thomas Harmon came next for the men, running a 27:53. Another one of our quick batch of freshmen, Thomas will continue to make his way towards an All-American finish in the future as he figures out the 8k. John Wiser was the next of the returners from last year’s podium finish, running a 28:01. John ran a good race to finish out a strong season that included PRs and some tough battles. He’ll be back next year looking to go 3 for 3 in the championship race. Next up was Cade Baker, finally earning that promotion from junior varsity! It has been a long journey for Cade but he ended it on a high note, running 28:13. Varsity is a goal that most only dream of, but Cade made sure his spot was never in doubt this fall. Finally, Spencer Nelson, best coach in all of NIRCA, came across the line in 28:51. Spencer has been putting in the work all season, not just running great times, but making sure that everyone was able to run their best as well. Make sure to thank him for all the effort he puts into coaching this squad. The men’s team overall managed 207 points and a 4th place finish, just barely missing the podium by 8 points. Although they won’t walk away with a trophy this time, these guys left it all out there and should be proud of the seasons that they all had. 

Race 5: Women’s Freshman/Sophomore Race

These Frosh/Soph races are maybe my favorite races to watch at Nationals. Most people have raced by this point and although they’re tired, the energy remains high to see the newest crop of future NIRCA studs. Though this race was delayed due to an ambulance hiccup, it was exciting nonetheless. Additionally, IXC put twice as many athletes on the line in this race as we did last year. Talk about growth! Shrugging off an unexpected extra hour of waiting time, Christina Li was our first finisher as she ran a 31:45. Christina has been putting in the work all season and it was awesome to see it end with a PR! Next up was Allison Kokal, who ran a 33:09. She fought hard despite the heat and delays for a strong time and will be looking to keep improving come track season!

Race 6: Men’s Freshman/Sophomore Race

Last, but certainly not least, was the men’s Frosh/Soph race. This race had our biggest showing of runners at nationals, with 13 men crossing the line for us. This is a great and exciting group who all have bright club careers ahead of them. Starting our finishers off with a bang was Mikey Smart, who ran a 28:33 to capture his first piece of NIRCA paper and a shiny new PR! Even though he was separated from his emotional support Ethan for this race, Mikey ran great and the best is yet to come for him. Simon Hildy came soon after Mikey, running a great race for a 29:10 and a huge 33 second PR. Simon has made huge improvements since August, shaving over 2 and a half minutes off his first 8k. Keep an eye on this kid for the future! Quinn Born and Kyle Kenmotsu finished neck and neck with each other in one of the most fun final sprints I’ve seen over the years, both finishing in 29:22. Although the official time was the same for both, NIRCA determined that Quinn managed to get the best of Kyle. Look out Quinn, Kyle will almost certainly be looking for revenge come track season. Nolan Enright kept it consistent, running a 30:04 to finish off a strong season as we move towards indoor season for track. Jordan Wilkerson ran a nice 30:37 and more importantly, clinched the victory in the season series between himself and Aidan Farrell with the final tally being 3-1. In all seriousness however, Jordan has had a great season and is consistently at practice and events and it has been great to see him so involved. Cadyn Grafton battled out there and came soon after Jordan, running a 30:43. Cadyn is another instrumental member of the club, coordinating social events and making sure we do fun things other than running. Give him some love next time you see him! After Cadyn came Nick Kwentus, who ran a 30:52 for a nice PR! Nick has dropped over 2 minutes from his 8k over the course of the season, making great improvements in his first season! A pair of Aidans finished next for the club, with Aidan Markiewicz and Aidan Farrell running 31:02 and 31:05 respectively. Aidan M secured himself a PR to end a great freshman season, big props to him! Aidan F also had a great season and will be studying the 2016 Cubs over the next year as he looks to close in on Jordan next fall. Jose Ocegueda Zuniga was yet another one of our runners to pick up a PR in this race, running 32:05 and dropping 45 seconds off of his previous best time. Gabriel Inojosa was next up, making his Nationals debut after injury held him out last year. It was an interesting race to say the least, running 32:38 despite losing a shoe in the middle of the race! Props to Gabriel for finishing the race with only one spike, make sure to double-knot them next year! Closing out a long day of running for the team was John Bledsoe, who finished his season with a time of 33:03. That time was a big improvement from his PR, shaving off almost 30 seconds. Way to close the season out John!

In addition to all the wonderful current IXC runners who put up great times at Nationals, alumni Grace Gudwien ran a 25:37 and Leonel Rodriguez ran a 32:16. Not only did they run great times, but made sure that this trip could happen for IXC, driving one of the vans all the way from Chicago to Virginia!

Alumni weren’t the only people who get a shoutout for driving however. This trip wouldn’t be possible without the parents who took time out of their lives to drive a bunch of rowdy college students halfway across the country. Big thanks to the Bartels family, the Nelsons, and my old man James “Big Jim” Taylor for being so great! 

The shoutouts don’t stop there either as we had some spectators join us on the trip as well. Cassandra Warner showed us who the coolest Warner sibling is and Gavin Schroeder lent us his camera skills documenting the weekend! Be on the lookout for his work to drop soon!

It’s been a long write-up so I’ll leave you guys with just a few quick thoughts. It has been the greatest pleasure of my time in college to be a part of this team. I have made so many friendships and memories that I will cherish long into the future. I want to wish the best of luck to those of us who have run their final race with IXC and will be heading into the real world next year. I also want to encourage those who will be back next year to continue making the club such a wonderful group of people. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you all.

With love,

Tristan <3

*Pssst* Hey, you. Yeah, you buddy, did ya hear? Word on the street is… IT’S NATIONALS WEEK!!! Everything thus far has led to this. This will be the last race of the season for the team and I couldn’t be more excited. We’ll be making the trip out to Virginia for the first time since 2019 in what promises to be one of the most memorable weekends you’ll have in your college running career. Buckle up because we’re gonna cover some storylines to be on the lookout for:

1. The Long Road Trip to and from Virginia

Folks, Virginia is a long way away from Champaign-Urbana. Making the trek out to the East Coast is no small feat and it couldn’t be accomplished without the talented and handsome Thomas Tran, our Travel Coordinator extraordinaire. He has handpicked each van for maximum team-bonding as well as shenanigans. Make sure to shake that man’s hand and thank him the next time that you see him. It takes months of work and organization to get dozens of rowdy runners half-way across the country and there is no better person for the job than Thomas. 

2. Women’s Team On A Tear

This has been one of the most successful seasons I have seen from the women’s team in the past 4 years. They have yet to walk away from a meet without hardware and will be looking to take that momentum into this weekend. They have proven themselves against all ranges of competition, defeating everyone from DIII schools throughout Illinois to other NIRCA clubs from around the Midwest. The women will be spearheaded by dynamic newcomer Diane Makovic, ever speedy Brisa McGrath, tough as nails Claire Casiello, Commander-in-Chief Maddy Feehan, standout freshman Evelyn Rowan, always consistent Alyson Ficca, and the spirited and energetic Bridget Brokaw. Make sure to keep an eye out for these and all of our women to cap off the stellar season they’ve built so far.

3. Junior Varsity No Longer

Cade Baker has been on an absolute heater in 2022, accomplishing everything from winning the Dads Weekend 5k to successfully popping the question. However, arguably his greatest accomplishment this year has been finally earning that promotion he’s wanted so desperately. Ladies and gentlemen, Cade has been selected for the Championship Squad. Congrats to Cade for beating the JV allegations and I hope this makes up for NIRCA taking away your Regional coordinating duties.

4. Nationals Raps

The tradition that the people have been waiting all year for. IXC tradition dictates that the poetically minded amongst us use their time in the vans to compose the most clever, scintillating, and heinous bars they possibly can. They will be performed the night before the race at our final team meeting in the hotel. No parents allowed for this one, we’re letting the kids play. Over the next few days, decide which of your teammates deserve a good roasting. Once your targets are chosen, put those insults to rhyme and let them have it in front of the entire squad Friday night. Seniors, this is your last best chance to leave your mark on the team. Freshman, now is the time to start building a legacy as a club legend. Coach Spencer had to get his start somewhere, ya know. 

This weekend is going to be one for the history books y’all. For many of us it will be the last time that we toe the line as members of IXC, while for others it’ll be the first nationals in a young college career. No matter how long you’ve been with the club, this is the time to leave it all on the course. You’ve been putting in great work all season and now is your opportunity to show that off. This trip isn’t just about racing though. Be sure to use the long hours in the cars and hotels to grow your relationships with your teammates. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, IXC is nothing without the people who comprise it. Running fast times is great and all, but everyone knows that running is better when you have others at your side. You all are a wonderful group of runners that I’m lucky to call my friends and I can’t wait to close out the season together. 

Love,

Tristan <3

There’s just nothing quite like deep October Cross Country, is there? Warm sweaters, cold mornings warming to perfect race time temperatures, and of course, REGIONALS!! Last weeked, IXC made their way to Geneva, Illinois and the (in)famous Northwestern Medicine Course to race the NIRCA Great Plains Regional race, the last stop on the journey to Nationals. It was a spectacular weekend filled with road trips and team bonding that culminated in some great successes despite the adversity along the way. Both of our teams brought silverware back to Champaign for the ever growing collection from this season, with our women’s team securing a 2nd place finish and the men’s side grabbing the gold. Some gutsy performances made it possible, so let’s get into it!

The Northwestern Medicine Course is a particularly hilly course with a fair share of expletives being muttered (yelled) when runners encounter the hill on the back half. This however, didn’t seem to slow down the hill-loving Diane Makovic as she battled her way to a 23:35.6 and 2nd place! Emma Bergmann also snagged herself a medal running 25:13.6 as she continues a great freshman season (the long course gripes continue). Claire Casiello fought through a tough middle of the race and sickness using the power of caffeine and consistent training to finish in 25:43.6. Evelyn Rowan and Madam President Maddy Feehan ran well together, finishing strong and close. They ran 26:33.1 and 26:33.9 respectively and locked up the 2nd place trophy for our women. Alyson Ficca was right behind them, running 26:40.6 even though she was battling a cold. Anna Zlatic completed the women’s top 7, coming through in a solid 27:21.9. Next up was Bridget Brokaw, who pushed through the hills to finish in 27:33.4 with a nice effort after a bit of time off racing. Lauren Brunk continued to settle back into racing and did so well, running 28:28.5! Suhani Peramanu ran her first 6k with the women’s team, running 29:09.3 in a good debut race. Lauren Bartels battled shin pain and the vertical nature of the course for a good race that ended up with a 29:53.6 (if you factor in the extra course length, she beat her typically metronome-like regionals performances). Mikeelie Jensen took a break from schooling the youth to school the competition, running 30:52.5 in this senior’s last Regionals meet. Allison Kokal grabbed herself a PR on the toughest course we’ll run this season, which is mighty impressive. She ran a 31:30.6.  Elizabeth Coats kept it consistent, running 32:19.8. On a course where plenty of runners were much slower than their Augustana performance, Liz should be proud of that kind of effort. Christina Li was right behind Liz, running 32:26.9 in an impressive season PR! Reiss Christensen got in on the action as well, finishing in 32:43.8 for another season’s best! Laine Hackmann turned in a strong effort, coming through the finish in 33:01.9. Anna Winnicki put a bow on a great day for the women’s team, closing them out with a 37:27.3! The women all set the bar high for the day, pushing themselves in a hard race and were rewarded for their hard work with a 2nd place trophy! I can’t wait to see them compete at Nationals! 

With the standard set high by the women, the men’s team took the course soon after. In his first race and only this season, Bram Osterhout showed out by running a 26:42.7 and locking up 1st place. Ethan Forsell showed he meant business in sunglasses and a headband as he cruised to a 26:52.9 finish and a slightly heavier neck. Eldon Warner took a quick break from thespianism to race for us, running a 26:55.6 (though he looked a little odd). Coach Spencer Nelson earned himself a big steak by running a speedy 27:14.2 on the day. Adam Gorcyca cruised to a 27:45.5 finish and was followed by Thomas Harmon, who ran a strong 28:00.7. John Wiser was our 7th man, making a good effort despite sickness for a 28:02.6 finish. Mikey Smart ran a great race, finishing in 28:52.9. Cade Baker fueled his 28:55.1 with the annoyance of being a Home Meet Coordinator that has no meet to coordinate (Shoutout NIRCA). John Burns managed to shake off some rough weeks of training to run an impressive 29:24.2. Arthur Mazzeo followed closely behind him, running a 29:26.9 season PR. Nolan Enright kept it rolling, coming through in 29:33.2. Kyle Kenmotsu battled for a nice 29:56.2. In a crowded straightaway, Cadyn Grafton surged for a 30:02.0 finish. Norb Nieves was close behind, securing himself a 30:04.9 after a consistent race. Philip Hu took the hills hard and fought his way to a strong 30:24.0. Alex Kogen, Adam Lupatkin, and Leyang Zhang all finished with each other, finishing in a tight pack with 30:27.2, 30:28.0, and 30:29.7 respectively. Coming off of a successful Chicago Marathon was resident old man Daniel Engel, running his first IXC race since 2019. I was still a freshman then! Dengel ran a good race however, coming through in 30:34.4. Simon Hildy was next for the men, finishing strong for a time of 30:46.6. Jordan Wilkerson continued an impressive freshman season, running a 31:00.8. Gabriel Inojosa traded out his multi-tool for a spike wrench, lacing up his spikes for a time of 31:05.2. Yuki Mizuno was in a small group of runners who managed a PR on such a tough course, besting his previous time by over 2 minutes(!!) with a 31:18.2 finish. Quinn Born was next, competing well to earn himself a 31:25.0. Aidan Markiewicz matched his Augustana time almost exactly, running a nice 31:39.2. Aidan Farrell made big moves throughout the race, passing people on his way to a time of 31:40.7. James Stanley picked a hell of a race to be his debut with the team, but he ran well and snagged a 31:52.9 finish. Isaac Schifferer is a sick man because he loved the hills, cruising over them for a strong time of 32:05.3. Delivering for the Irish where Notre Dame football cannot, Patrick Tallon ran a good race for a time of 32:12.6. Andrew Stevenson looked handsome as ever as he shrugged off the hills for a time of 32:17.5. Henry Hornbrook gave the hills a better fight than the Yankees gave the Astros as he finished in 32:31.9, though the Big Hand Man made his displeasure with the elevation known during the race. Nick Kwentus looked strong as he made his way through the finish line in 32:56.7. Tristan Taylor (Hey! I know that guy!) struggled his way through a course seemingly custom made to include his least favorite conditions for a 33:18.0 finish, but is looking for a big bounceback at Nationals. Gabe Benson did what he had to do to get some Portillo’s, accomplishing his task in 33:49.5. John Bledsoe was the next man through, getting himself across the line in a nice 34:16.6. Joseph Kuang pushed past some illness and ran a 35:00.2 to be proud of. Thomas Tran was the Little Engine That Could, chugging across the line in 35:11.5. Nathaniel Lenning left it all on the course, wrapping his year with a 35:25.5 <3. Dhruva Chowlur ran his first 8k this season, finishing in 36:00.9. Luckily for him, not many courses will be as tough as this. Brennan Taylor fought hard for a 38:07.5, making the battalion proud with his effort. And last, but certainly not least, was Ryan McClowry, also making his debut and running a good 39:06.8!

On the whole, it was another great race day in a season full of them. Even if you ran a race that you’re not happy with, you should be proud of the effort you displayed on a tough course that beat almost everyone down. On top of that, Regionals is not our last stop. Nationals is just around the corner and with it comes another opportunity to put the finishing touches on a season to remember. This has been one of my favorite seasons of my running career and none of this would be possible without all of you guys. It has been my pleasure to see us grow as teammates and competitors throughout the fall and I cannot wait to see it on display one last time.

With love,

Tristan <3

P.S. It was great to see so many IXC alumni at the race, big shoutouts to Jeffrey Hesselbein and Cody Lund! And congratulations to former IXC runners who competed well for their current programs, Grace Gudwien, Muneeb Ansari, and Leonel Rodriguez!

After a dominant showing at Olivet, the Illinois Cross Country club continued to put the NCAA on notice, showing off just how strong Division IV is when it comes to running. Augustana College hosted us for the Brissman-Lundeen Invite on a beautiful Saturday morning, changing up the usual Friday night gun time for this meet. The lovely Saukie Golf Course is always a favorite amongst our runners as it’s a fast course where many people run PRs. This was certainly the case last weekend, with many of our runners posting their fastest times as we rounded out the regular season. Let’s get into the recap!

The women started the afternoon off, running their first 6k of the season with great results. Leading our women, and all the women for that matter, was Diane Makovic, who ran a stellar 22:58.1 to bring home her 1st collegiate 1st place finish. Diane is cruising and is definitely in the mix for an All-American finish at Nationals. Brisa McGrath continued a great senior season, posting a speedy 23:14.6 PR finish and is looking to dominate her last postseason with the club. Claire Casiello came into the day hoping to break 26 and instead broke 25(!!), finishing in 24:50.2 and earning herself a snazzy t-shirt to go along with her 6k PR. Emma Bergmann came across just after Claire, finishing in 25:00.3. I know she wanted sub-25 for her first 6k, but it will definitely be coming if she keeps up her current impressive form (in her defense, the course might’ve been a tad long). Alyson Ficca also completed her first 6k, crossing the line right after Emma in a strong, consistent race that earned her a 25:06.0 finish. Both her and Emma should have sub-25 in the bag come Regionals! Our next finisher was Evelyn Rowan, running a 25:54.6 and displaying that even an extra 1k isn’t a challenge she can’t handle. Madam President Maddy Feehan ran her first XC race since Nats last year and crushed it, running 26:30.0 with a fast kick to beat a competitor with questionable navigational skills. Maddy closed out the top 7 for our women, and ensured that they would take home 1st place! Anna Zlatic was our next runner, finishing in 26:45.2 for a great first 6k! After Anna we had an awesome team effort from Lauren Brunk and Lauren Bartels, who ran 27:52.8 and 28:11.8, respectively. Brunk ran her first XC race since her freshman year and did amazing, pushing the pace and working together with Bartels. Bartels pushed through some discomfort for an effort that was just off of her PR, meaning she is looking to smash it come Regionals. Mikeelie Jensen showed that she’s not just a Mid-Distance specialist, finishing with a time of 30:24.8. Hopefully that ankle continues to hold up! Allison Kokal ran her first 6k with the club and continued her trend of improvement with a 31:31.4 finish. Her pace for this 6k was faster than her last 5k, she’s getting better every week! Laine Hackmann and Elizabeth Coats finished one right after the other, running 32:10.3 and 32:12.8. Both ran their first 6ks with IXC and crushed it, putting up results to be proud of and a good baseline to work off heading deeper into the fall. Christina Li ran a solid 32:29.6, looking strong as she pushed through the extra kilometer. Anna Winnicki also ran a good race, running 33:47.2 in a faster pace than her 5k time as well! Reiss Christensen took a break from turning your favorite webmaster into a meme to secure a time of 34:08.6. Finally, Reagan Maccauley brought home a 38:23.7 for her first result with IXC. Overall, it was a great day for the women with lots of fast times and yet another 1st place finish! Watch out NIRCA!!

After the women crushed the competition, it was time for the men to do the same. Kicking off our runners was Eldon Warner, who just cannot get enough of this course. After running a PR here last year, Eldon did it again and ran 24:34.4 for a dominant 1st place finish that paced the field by over a minute. Adam Gorcyca (25:59.2) and Ethan Forsell (25:59.5) raced each other for the last 1k, but Adam managed to get the best of Ethan (barely). Ethan can’t be too upset with the outcome though, as he and Adam made sure that IXC went 1-2-3. John Wiser ran a smooth 26:20.2 for a PR and still has more in the tank as he looks to avenge last year’s Nationals. Spencer Nelson showed why he’s the man in charge, with his excellent training netting himself a 26:42.3 PR. Spencer was our last scorer and he made sure the big dogs ate, with the men also bringing home 1st place as a team against NCAA competition. Thomas Harmon put his All-State bonafides on display, running a 26:53.3 in one of the more impressive freshman debuts I’ve seen for the club. Justin Ostrem ran a 27:03.2 and although he wasn’t delighted with his finish, he has always been able to push through adversity and make his way into the top-7 ever since he was a freshman (I’d make a joke calling him old here, but it’s a bit played out by this point). John Burns finally beat the Tempo Loop merchant allegations, running a 28:02.0 to clinch a big PR off the concrete. Cadyn Grafton and Porter Shawver finished in a close one, running 28:27.5 and 28:30.5 respectively. Both ran strong races and will look to keep cruising come November. Mikey Smart and Adam Lupatkin also finished neck and neck, with Mikey barely edging out Adam for a time of 28:40.1. Big props to Adam though because he ran a huge minute and a half PR, crossing the line at 28:41.4. Phillip Hu was in the mix with them as well, finishing in 28:42.5. Despite his disappointment with his time, he has more to give for our final two races and will be making strides over the next few weeks. 

Norb Nieves finally got the result he’s been looking for since freshman year, shaking off injuries for a speedy 29:15.2 Norb showed there’s nothing Mid about the times he can run, and he’ll keep making improvements as we move forward. Nolan Enright ran a nice 29:25.4, making O-Block proud. Simon Hildy seems to have gotten the hang of the 8k pretty quickly, dropping almost 2 minutes off his previous time for an impressive 29:43.5! Quinn Born made some nice improvement as well, dropping almost a minute from his initial 8k this season and running a cool 29:53.4. Coming soon after Quinn was our favorite Frenchman, Eliott Hacquin. Eliott ran a 30:01.6 and will be looking to go sub-30 come regionals! Gabriel Inojosa ran 30:10.4 and although he was looking to break 30, it still looks to be in the cards for him this season if he can keep up the good work he’s putting in. Jordan Wilkerson evened the tally between him and Aidan Farrell to 1-1, dropping a minute and a half from his first 8k and running 30:24.4. Although Jordan got him this time, Aidan’s race was nothing to scoff at as he ran an impressive PR of over a minute himself, coming through in 30:43.9. Leyang Zhang ran his first 8k with IXC, navigating the course in an easy 30:53.7 finish. Nick Kwentus came in right after, dropping a time of 30:54.1 after a really consistent race, improving over a minute for a PR. 

Looking devilishly handsome as he ran a PR by a minute as well was Tristan Taylor, who finished in 31:06.5. Isaac Schifferer also ran a huge PR, crushing his former time and running 31:37.3 on the day and looking handsome as well, if I do say so myself. Aidan Markiewicz was close behind Isaac, following the trend and PRing in a 31:38.8 finish. Henry Hornbrook put the XC community on alert, letting everyone know he isn’t just a track guy with a HUGE 3.5 minute PR as he ran 31:46.6, while also predicting Aaron Judge would break Roger Maris’ home run record (He did). What can’t this guy do? 

Charley Hoppis ran under an alias this time, but he couldn’t hide from recognition in the write-up because he ran a big PR, crossing the line in 32:17.7. Andrew Stevenson was strong out on the course as well, also running a PR as he came through in 32:32.1. Joseph Kuang ran his first 8k and PRed by default, running 32:40.5 in a really strong team effort with Travel Coordinator Thomas Tran! Thomas shaved almost a minute off his time from Olivet and will be looking to run a PR at Nationals. Jose Ocegueda Zuniga crushed his first 8k, coming soon after Thomas with a 32:50.6 finish. Consistency king Nathaniel Lenning shaved another minute off of his previous 8k and with some improvements in the last mile should be cooking by the time we hit November. Yuki Mizuno competed in the 8k for the first time, running a smooth 33:20.5 and setting himself a goal to beat for the next one. Gabe Benson wanted sub-34 and he got it, running 33:23.3 and continued to make massive strides that he should be very proud of. John Bledsoe ran a great debut race, coming through in 33:28.3 and looking to continue improving this fall. Newman’s favorite runner Griffin Rhode came through in a solid 34:25.1. Denver Soekawan shaved 50 seconds off of his first race, running a nice 34:30.2 for some big improvement. IXC newcomer Salvador Madera showed it’s better late than never to start your collegiate XC career, cruising to a 34:32.2 finish and confirming to everyone Whitney Young boys are the best members of the team. Brennan Taylor made his season debut, showing that even though you may be shorter than your 15 year old brother, you can still run good times as he finished in 35:46.9. Big win for the troops. James Meadows closed out a great day for our gentlemen, with the bunny statue again fueling him a great race and a PR as he finished in 36:53.4. 

Overall, this was a day filled with personal bests, 1st place finishes, and a team culture that is coming together with every passing day. You’d be hard-pressed to find an athlete that didn’t leave with something to be proud of and even loftier goals for the next race we run. Regionals is fast approaching and although it is going to be a tough race on a hilly course with stiff competition, this team has shown over and over that it is capable of extraordinary things. IXC is primed for a great postseason and it is looking better for us each day. 

P.S. It slipped my mind until the end here, but this was the biggest turnout for any XC meet in my time here! It warms my heart that we have so many people who are dedicated to competing with us. IXC is nothing without all of you wonderful runners and you all make even the worst days of running worth it. 

It’s a privilege to compete with you all,

Tristan <3