COLUMBIA, Mo. – Behind 11 different runners setting career-bests, the Illinois State men's and women's cross country teams put together strong performances at the 2022 Gans Creek Classic, hosted by the University of Missouri.
The women's squad – who placed ninth as a squad in the 24-school field – had five runners reach new career-bests: Caroline Meyers, Claire Fuhlhage, Maddi Exline, Lauren Schulze, and Mattison Plummer. The men placed 11th of 22 schools and got career-best times from Baptiste Tardiveau, Zack Loomis, Tyler Klouda, Mathis Chavand, Jordan Wood and Yusuf Baig.
"Today was a breakout performance for Baptiste (Tardiveau)," said director of track and field / head cross country coach Jeff Bovee. "He actually went up to the front and was in the lead pack through 3,000-meters and looked great. Matise (Chavand) unfortunately got tripped up around the 2.5k mark and was stepped on a little bit – and was a little shaken up – but I'm proud of him for battling in there. "
Tardiveau's time of 24:14.0 puts him as the sixth-fastest 8,000-meter runner in program history, and he placed 21st in the individual race. Loomis eclipsed the 25-minute plateau for the first time in his career in a time of 24:48.3, nearly 40 seconds better than his previously-best 5-mile time, crossing the tape in 69th place. Klouda also went sub-25 minutes for the first time in his career in a time of 24:58.4 to take 80th. Chavand became the third first-time member of the under-25-minute club during the race when the freshman ran the five miles in a time of 24:59.5 to place 85th.
The Redbirds had four runners under 25 minutes for the first time since the 2018 season when the quartet of Kyle Mattes, Cody Baele, Jack Antsey, and Kevin Koski all finished under 25 minutes at the Notre Dame Invitational on September 28, 2018.
Charlie Wetzel was the team's fifth finisher in the race, completing the course in a time of 25:09.4 to take 95th, as Jordan Wood ran a personal best by over a minute with time of 25:12.8 placing 101st, while freshman Yusuf Baig's 25:29.4 topped his previous-best time set two weeks ago at the Redbird Invitational – as he took 122nd overall.
"There was a lot of good solid depth in there for the team – a lot of personal bests – Jordan Wood had a phenomenal race for himself, and it was great to get Tyler Klouda and Charlie Wetzel back in the mix," said Bovee. "Those guys were a little rusty yet, but today was a good chance to dust off that a little bit of that. Really solid race for Zack Loomis – a big personal best for him – and overall good progress for the guys."
On the women's side Illinois took the team title, just ahead of Lipscomb, Northwestern and Minnesota. Weber State, Missouri, Iowa, and Baylor rounded out the eight schools to finish ahead of the Redbirds, as ISU was followed by Drake, Eastern Washington, Northern Iowa, Kansas, North Florida, South Dakota, Omaha, Southern Illinois, UIC, Kansas City, Creighton, Western Illinois, Murray State, SIUE, and Lindenwood.
The men's race was led by Iowa State, with Illinois, North Florida, Drake, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Lipscomb, Weber State, and Southern Illinois finishing ahead of ISU. UIC, Baylor, Eastern Washington, South Dakota, Creighton, Northern Iowa, SIUE, Murray State, Western Illinois, Lindenwood, and Kansas City rounded out the 22 schools in the field.
Meyers ran a time of 21:24.0 over the 6,000-meter course, which puts her as the eighth-fasts 6k runner in program history, as she placed 36th overall.  Fuhlhage – who also ran a career-best time with a 21:28.0 – finished 39th overall and just outside of the top-10 10k runner in program history. Ailey Mitchell – with a time of 21:37.9 – narrowly missed a career-best while placing 49th. Rachel Hickey – in her first completed race of the season – placed 77th overall in a time of 21:58.2.
"Carol and Claire continue to get better every week," commented the head coach. "Those two just ran and put themselves into the mix at the beginning and were solid all the way through. I am happy with the progress they have been making. Ailey got pushed back a little bit at the start, but battled up later in the race, but had to climb her way through the large field size. With so few spots at the front, she got into a bad spot but finished really strong."
Exline, whose time of 22:06.6 is over seven seconds faster than his previous 6,000-meter personal record, was the team's final scoring runner, as she placed 85th overall. Schulze also set a personal best with a time of 22:17.3 – 18 seconds faster than her previous best – to take 97th. Ashley Heagy's 22:37.2 – which placed her 122nd – was just off of her personal best time. Plummer's 22:40.6 was 14 seconds faster than her previous best to take 125th, while Mackenzie Brownrigg took 157th with a time of 23:15.1 and Maggie Reed 186th in a time of 23:54.5.
"There were a lot of standout performances on the women's side – it was one of our better team races in a while and I think we are moving in a good direction on both sides."
After a weekend of only training, the Redbirds make the short trek to Peoria, Illinois on October 14 to compete in the Bradley Pink Classic.
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