EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Men’s and Women’s Cross Country returns to the course Saturday when it competes at the GLVC Championships in Romeoville, Illinois. The women’s six-kilometer race begins at 10:30 a.m., while the men’s 8k is slated for an 11:30 a.m. start.
USI’s men, ranked No. 12 in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll, are looking to recapture the GLVC title after seeing their run of 15 straight first-place finishes at the conference meet to come to an end with a six-point loss to Lewis University last year.
The Flyers, who host this year’s meet, also were the last team to knock off USI’s men at the league meet after claiming a two-point win in 2004. Lewis enters Saturday’s meet ranked No. 16, nationally, while the University of Illinois Springfield, which is under the direction of former USI All-American and two-time national champion Tyler Pence ’16, is receiving votes outside the USTFCCCA Top 30.
Leading the Eagles into this weekend’s meet is a two-time GLVC Runner of the Week in senior Noah Hufnagel (Santa Claus, Indiana). Hufnagel has been USI’s top finisher at both the Illinois State University Redbird Invitational, finishing second overall, as well the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers Invitational, finishing eighth overall.
The return of junior Titus Winders (Mansfield, Indiana) to the GLVC Championships also boasts a stacked lineup for the Eagles. Winders won the GLVC title in 2019 and was the 2018 and 2019 Midwest Region Runner of the Year after winning the regional championship in both seasons. He did not compete in 2020.
Senior Wyat Harmon (Fredericktown, Ohio); junior Cameron Cox (Huntsville, Alabama); sophomores Mitchell Hopf (Santa Claus, Indiana) and Braden Nicholson (Claremont, Illinois); and freshmen Silas Winders (Mansfield, Indiana) and Dylan Bland (Holland, Indiana) all figure to play a significant role in USI’s quest for a 28th conference championship.
USI’s women enter this week’s meet ranked No. 13 in the latest USTFCCCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Eagles are in search of their first conference title since 2019 and league-best 14th overall when they toe the line at the GLVC meet Saturday.
The Eagles finished third at the GLVC meet a year ago as Southwest Baptist University won its first-ever GLVC title, while Drury University finished second.
Senior Jennifer Comastri (Indianapolis, Indiana) is one of the top contenders to take home the individual title Saturday after finishing second at the UAH Chargers Invitational two weeks ago. Comastri, who was named the GLVC Runner of the Week for her efforts, won the GLVC title in the 5,000 meters during the outdoor season last spring after finishing fourth in the event at the NCAA II Indoor Championships last March.
Other Eagles that can make a big impact on USI’s team score Saturday include junior Kara Martin (Herrin, Illinois); sophomores McKenna Cavanaugh (New Albany, Indiana), Hadley Fisher (Evansville, Indiana), Lauren Greiwe (West Harrison, Indiana), Cameron Hough (Olney, Illinois) and Adele Schnautz(Evansville, Indiana); and freshmen Audrey Comastri (Indianapolis, Indiana) and Allison Morphew (Evansville, Indiana).
In addition to USI’s presence in the latest USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Poll, Southwest Baptist (No. 14) and Lewis (No. 18) represent the GLVC in the national rankings.
Saturday’s meet will be aired live on the GLVC Sports Network, while live results can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.
