ST. LOUIS – Following an impressive performance at the NCAA Pre-Nationals this past weekend, Illinois State cross country senior Kyle Mattes has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Male Cross Country Athlete of the Week, announced the league Tuesday afternoon. This is the first weekly honor for the Redbirds this season, and the second of Mattes' career.
A 2017 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship qualifier, Mattes proved Saturday that he is no stranger to competing against the nation's best. His experience racing on the national stage was evident, as he led the Redbirds for the entirety of the 8K White Race. Mattes made his biggest move during the middle part of the race, passing 73 runners from the 2K mark to the 6K mark. He finished the race just as strong, crossing the finish line in a personal-best 24:18.70 to place 29th among 232 student-athletes.
Not only is Mattes' time the top 8K mark in the Valley so far this season, but it is also the fifth-fastest time in Illinois State Cross Country history. With Mattes leading the Redbird brigade, ISU was able to defeat 10 USTFCCCA regionally-ranked opponents, including Stony Brook (No. 4 in the Northeast), Liberty (then No. 6 in the Southeast), and MVC foe Indiana State (No. 10 in the Great Lakes).
The Illinois State men's and women's cross country teams will be back in action Friday when they travel to Champaign, Illinois to compete in the Illini Open for their final tune-up before the MVC Championship on Oct. 27.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
