NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State cross country program has announced the release of its schedule for the upcoming 2022 season. The schedule features five regular season meets, including one home meet, before the Redbirds open postseason competition with the MVC Championships.
"Both our men's and women's programs are poised for very strong seasons," Illinois State Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Jeff Bovee said. "Our team returns veteran leadership and depth to compete at a high level."
To open the 2022 campaign, Illinois State will travel down I-74 for the Illini Challenge, set for Thursday, Sept. 1 at 6:00 p.m. CT. The Illini Challenge will mark the first of two meets that the Redbirds are set to compete in on the campus of the University of Illinois.
Following a weekend off, ISU will return to Normal to host the Redbird Invite, slated for Friday, Sept. 16 at 5:00 p.m. CT, at Weibring Golf Club. At the 2021 Redbird Invite, the Illinois State women finished fourth, while the men finished fifth.
For the first time since 2019, ISU will travel to Columbia, Missouri to compete in the Gans Creek Classic on Friday, Sept. 30. The meet will allow the Redbirds to preview the course that will serve as host to the 2022 NCAA Midwest Regional.
"This will be the second time in program history that the Redbirds will compete at Mizzou on their brand new course, prepping us for the NCAA Regional." Bovee said.
The final two regular season meets of the season will allow the Redbirds to compete in familiar territory, as ISU travels to Peoria for the Bradley Classic on Friday, Oct. 14 and makes a return trip to Champaign for the Illini Open on Friday, Oct. 21.
Indiana State is set to host the 2022 MVC Cross Country Championships on Friday, Oct. 28. The action in Terre Haute, Indiana is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. CT.
"We look forward to racing again in Terre Haute, where our women's team won the 2011 MVC title." Bovee said.
Last year, the ISU women logged a third-place team finish while the men finished fourth. On the women's side, the Redbirds were paced by Ailey Mitchell, who earned All-MVC First Team honors with an eighth-place individual finish. Charlie Wetzel led the ISU men with a 13th-place finish.
Following the MVC Championships, the 'Birds will return to Columbia for the NCAA Midwest Regional, set to begin at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11. Student-athletes who qualify will advance to the NCAA Championships, hosted in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Friday, Nov. 19.
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