ELSAH, Ill. – University of Illinois Springfield claimed its first Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Men's Cross Country Championship on Saturday at the Principia College Cross Country Course in Elsah, Illinois.
The 17th-ranked Prairie Stars totaled 35 points for their first league title, as their top-five runners finished in the top 12.
Lewis University was denied its third-straight league title after totaling 36 points for second place in just the first Conference meet where the top-two spots were separated by a single point. Missouri S&T was 40 points behind in third with 76 points, matching its highest finish in the event back in 2008, while Southwest Baptist University (127 points) and Drury University (136) rounded out the top-five teams.
University of Indianapolis (187) finished sixth ahead of Truman State University (188) in seventh, while University of Missouri-St. Louis (204) claimed eighth. Maryville University (233) and Rockhurst University (274) were respectively ninth and 10th, while William Jewell College (355) followed in 11th after not scoring in 2021, and McKendree University (363) rounded out the field in 12th. Quincy University did not compete in the event.
Illinois Springfield senior Wyatt McIntyre broke the tape first in an 8,000-meter time of 24 minutes, 50.30 seconds to become the third-straight winner from UIS. In addition to being named the GLVC Champion, McIntyre was honored as GLVC Runner of the Year following the race.
Prairie Stars' sophomore Noah McIntyre claimed runner-up honors at 25 minutes, 02.00 seconds in his first appearance in the event. Lewis took the next two spots, as junior Sean Ryan scored three points in a time of 25 minutes, 15.70 seconds just ahead of sophomore Charlie Wirth in fourth at 25 minutes, 16.30 seconds. Flyers' junior Evan Jamrozy rounded out the top-five finishers with his time of 25 minutes, 19.16 seconds for fifth.
S&T seniors Hayes Pateidl (25:22.60) and Andrew Lofgren (25:28.80), as well as Lewis junior Daniel Arimi (25:31.50) finished sixth through eighth, respectively, while ninth and 10th went to UIS junior Ryan Jones (25:32.00) and S&T sophomore Lucas Rackers (25:35.10). UIS senior Matt Moler (25:39.90) and UIS's Chris Cherry (25:40.50) went 11-12, while 13th through 15th were taken, respectively, by UMSL sophomore Benjamin VandenBrink (25:42.40), UIS sophomore Gabe Martinez (25:43.00), and Truman senior Nathan Key (25:44.00). Rounding out the top 20 with All-Conference distinction were the following runners: Lewis senior Ricardo Del Toro (25:45.50), Drury sophomore Colby Garner (25:40.30), UIndy junior AJ Goecker (25:50.60), Lewis junior Jacob Hinchley (25:52.10), and UMSL freshman Toby Middleton (25:53.10).
At the conclusion of the GLVC Championship, in addition to McIntyre's honor as GLVC Runner of the Year, Middleton was named the league's top newcomer as Freshman of the Year, and UIS head coach Emmons King was honored by his peers as GLVC Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm.
After the race, 13 student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior were named as their sport's GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award honoree. These individuals must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The honorees are now eligible to become one of their school's two Spalding Sportsmanship Award winners, which will be announced at the end of the academic year.
For the third time in league history, the GLVC Championship was carried live on the GLVC Sports Network (GLVCSN). The broadcast can be found in the "On Demand" section on all GLVCSN platforms, including GLVCSN.com, GLVCSN iOS and Android mobile apps, as well as GLVCSN OTT platforms on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.
2022 GLVC POSTSEASON AWARDS
GLVC CHAMPIONS/RUNNER OF THE YEAR: Wyatt McIntyre, Illinois Springfield
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Toby Middleton, Missouri-St. Louis
COACH OF THE YEAR: Emmons King, Illinois Springfield
ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES (in order of top-20 finish)
Wyatt McIntyre, UIS
Noah McIntyre, UIS
Sean Ryan, LEWIS
Charlie Wirth, LEWIS
Evan Jamrozy, LEWIS
Hayes Pateidl, S&T
Andrew Lofgren, S&T
Daniel Arimi, LEWIS
Ryan Jones, UIS
Lucas Rackers, S&T
Matt Moler, UIS
Chris Cherry, UIS
Benjamin VandenBrink, UMSL
Gabe Martinez, UIS
Nathan Key, TSU
Ricardo Del Toro, LEWIS
Colby Garner, DU
AJ Goecker, UINDY
Jacob Hinchley, LEWIS
Toby Middleton, UMSL
2022 GLVC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Ethan Haynes, DU
Cort Ross, UIS
Aaron Trejo, UINDY
Charlie Wirth, LEWIS
Mason Gray, MU
Seth Kasinger, MCK
Jonah Yates, S&T
Peyton Brueck, UMSL
Austin Haskins, QU
Jack Del Vecchio, RU
Nathan Key, TSU
Carter Adams, SBU
Christian Santiago, WJC
2022 GLVC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM AWARD
Missouri S&T