On Nov. 2, the Illinois Wesleyan Cross Country team competed in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championships (CCIW) in Warrenville, Ill.
The Titans walked away with six All-Conference finishes, five on the women’s side and one on the men’s.
They are now preparing for the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championships.
Women’s team
In an Oct. 31 CCIW coaches poll, the Illinois Wesleyan women’s team was voted as the expected second-place finisher, and their performance fulfilled these expectations.
The Titans pulled off their second consecutive second-place finish behind Wheaton College.
The race began with the women’s six-kilometer. Junior Adrianna Crabtree, the reigning CCIW individual champion, and senior Annalese Chudy started at the front of the pack, securing the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.
By the last lap, Crabtree fought her way to the third spot and finished in 22:18:87.
Chudy finished fifth, with a 22:49:92 time.
The top-ten finishes earned the two Titans spots on the All-CCIW First Team.
Senior Emma McGrath, first-year Maddie Morgan and junior Brooke Nazos also secured All-CCIW honors, earning spots on the All-CCIW Second Team.
Morgan finished 14th in 23:04:26, and McGrath finished 19th in 23:13:04, personal bests for the two.
Nazos finished 20th in 23:20:67, a season-best.
Men’s team
Nick Fisch finished 16th for the Titans in the eight-kilometer race in a career-best time of 25:16:66, the fifth-fastest finish in Illinois Wesleyan history.
Fisch’s performance also set the conference meet record time for the school.
This earned the men’s team their CCIW honor, with Fisch securing a spot on the All-CCIW Second team.
While Fisch aimed for a spot on the First Team with his teammates in the women’s race, he knows there is more to look forward to.
“The conference has gotten a lot faster over the years,” Fisch said.
“At the end of the day, I’m happy with my performance, but I know there’s still more to give.”
The Titans will travel to Rock Island, Ill. for their next meet.
The NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championships will take place on Nov.16, and the Titans remain optimistic for this meet.
The women’s team will be riding the success of the CCIW meet, and Fisch has high hopes for the men’s team.
He said, “Everyone has been super dedicated this season and it’s starting to pay off.”
They are now preparing for their penultimate meet: the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championships.